THE  SCHOOL  OF  SALERNUM 


THE 

SCHOOL  of  SALERNUM 

REGIMEN   SANITATIS   SALERNITANUM 

The  English  Version 

BY  SIR  JOHN  HARINGTON 

HISTORY  OF  THE  SCHOOL  OF  SALERNUM  BY 
FRANCIS  R.  PACKARD,  M.D. 

AND  A  NOTE  ON  THE  PREHISTORY  OF  THE 

REGIMEN  SANITATIS  BY 
FIELDING   H.   GARRISON/  M.  D. 


NEW    YORK 

PAUL  B.  HOEBER 

1920 


Copyright,  1920, 

BY  PAUL  B.  HOEBER 

Published  June,  1920 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America 


57037 
CONTENTS 

PAGE 

I.    HISTORY  OF  THE  SCHOOL  OF  SALERNUM 

FRANCIS  R.  PACKARD  7 

II.    NOTE  ON  THE  PREHISTORY  OF  THE  REGIMEN  SANITATIS 

FIELDING  H.  GARRISON  S3 

III.  THE  SALERNE  SCHOOLE 67 

IV.  REGIMEN  SANITATIS  SALERNITANUM IS9 

V.    NOTES  ON  THE  ENGLISH  TEXT igl 

VI.    NOTES  ON  THE  LATIN  TEXT 2°4 

VII.    INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS 2I° 


2052814 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

SIR  JOHN  HARINGTON Frontispiece 

TAILPIECE,  THE    PRINTER'S    DEVICE    APPEARING  IN  SCOLA 

SALERNITANA.  VENICE:  CARL  BROGIOLLUS,  1630  ...       52 
TAILPIECE,  APPEARING  IN  MEDICINA  SALERNITANA.  VENICE: 

JOHANN  SAVER,  1615 63 

VILLA  NOVA  COMMENTING  ON  THE  SCHOLA  SALERNI       ...       64 
FIRST  PAGE   OF  A  MS  OF  HARINGTON'S  TRANSLATION,  IN  A 
SCRIBE'S  HAND  BUT  WITH  HARINGTON'S  OWN  CORREC- 
TIONS        Opposite    75 

REPRODUCTION    OF   THE    TITLE    PAGE    FROM   THE    ENGLISH 

VERSION  BY  HARINGTON 67 

THE  MEDIEVAL  PHYSICIAN  IN  His  OFFICE      .     .     .      Opposite    76 

THE  BANQUET 78 

THE  PUBLIC  BATH 83 

THE  PUBLIC  BATH 85 

THE  MORNING  DRAUGHT 89 

THE  SIGNS  OF  THE  ZODIAC Opposite    91 

ARNOLD  OF  VILLA  NOVA Opposite    99 

THE  FOUR  SEASONS 129 

THE  FOUR  TEMPERAMENTS Opposite  130 

THE  FOUR  TEMPERAMENTS 133 

THE  SANGUINE  MAN 135 

THE  CHOLERIC  MAN 137 

THE  PHLEGMATIC  MAN 139 

THE  MELANCHOLY  MAN 141 

BLEEDING  TO  CHEER  THE  PENSIVE 151 


HISTORY  OF  THE  SCHOOL  OF 
SALERNUM 

BY  FRANCIS  R.  PACKARD,  M.D. 

DURING  the  periods  known  as  the 
Dark  and  Middle  Ages,  medicine,  as 
a  science,  practically  ceased  to  exist. 
In  the  Christian  era  hospitals  and  asylums 
for  the  sick  were  established,  but  it  cannot 
be  said  that  the  clinical  material  thus  gath- 
ered was  utilized  to  much  good.  Leper  hos- 
pitals in  great  numbers  were  established 
throughout  Europe  and  England,  necessitated 
by  the  spread  of  that  disease  by  pilgrims  and 
crusaders  returning  from  the  East. 

To  their  preservation  in  various  monastic 
libraries  we  owe  the  possession  of  most  of  the 
literary  remains  of  ancient  Greek,  Latin,  and 
Arabian  medicine,  but  no  additions  were  made 
during  many  centuries  to  the  knowledge  of 
anatomy,  physiology,  or  other  fundamental 
branches  of  medicine.  The  monks  who  wrote 

I  7  ) 


on  medical  subjects  were  either  mere  copyists 
who  transcribed  ancient  manuscripts  which 
were  contained  in  monastic  libraries,  or  com- 
piled formularies  of  therapeutic  measures  as 
absurd  as  those  of  the  most  primitive  races. 

The  Benedictines  were,  from  the  medical 
point  of  view,  the  most  active  of  all  the  religious 
orders.  At  the  Benedictine  Monastery  of 
Monte  Casino,  near  Naples,  in  the  ninth  cen- 
tury, medicine,  such  as  it  was,  was  not  only 
practiced  but  taught.  Unfortunately,  the 
records  which  remain  of  the  cases  treated 
there  are  chiefly  accounts  of  miraculous  cures 
wrought  by  St.  Benedict,  and  though  inter- 
esting from  a  historical  point  of  view,  possess 
absolutely  no  scientific  value.  The  monastery 
had  been  founded  by  St.  Benedict  himself  in 
the  early  part  of  the  sixth  century,  and  was 
sacked  by  the  Lombards  towards  its  close. 
The  monks  fled  to  Rome,  but  returned  to 
Monte  Casino  in  720,  when  they  rebuilt  the 
monastery,  only  to  be  destroyed  again,  this  time 
by  the  Saracens  in  884.  It  was  restored  once 


more  some  seventy  years  later  and  became  one 
of  the  most  famous  monasteries  of  the  medie- 
val era.  It  continued  its  existence  as  a  mon- 
astery until  1866,  when  at  the  dissolution  of 
such  institutions  it  was  spared  because  of  the 
intervention  of  some  English  well-wishers  of 
Italy,  and  was  classed  as  a  national  monu- 
ment, with  its  monks  as  custodians. 

One  of  the  chief  duties  of  the  Benedictine 
order  was  to  care  for  the  sick.  Although  St. 
Benedict  had  forbidden  the  monks  to  act  as 
teachers,  the  injunction  was  from  an  early 
period  generally  disregarded,  and  we  find  Monte 
Casino  referred  to  not  only  as  a  hospital  but  as  a 
medical  school  at  a  very  early  date.  Most  of 
the  cures  wrought  at  the  shrine,  however, 
were  of  a  miraculous  nature,  such  as  that  of 
the  Emperor  Henry  II  of  Germany,  in  1022, 
who  had  gone  to  the  monastery  to  seek  relief 
from  stone  in  the  bladder.  He  fell  into  a 
deep  sleep  during  which  St.  Benedict  relieved 
him  of  the  cause  of  his  sufferings.  Several 
of  its  abbots,  notably  Bertharius,  in  the  ninth 
[  9  1 


century,  and  Desiderius  (who  became  Pope 
Victor  III),  in  the  eleventh,  wrote  books  on 
medicine,  including  four  books  on  the  miracu- 
lous cures  wrought  by  St.  Benedict. 

One  of  the  most  famous  inmates  of  the 
monastery  was  Constantinus  Africanus,  who 
was  born  in  northern  Africa  and  travelled 
extensively  in  Egypt  and  India^  in  the  pur- 
suit of  knowledge.  When  he  returned  to 
Carthage  he  was  accused  -of  sorcery-  and 
obliged  to  fly  for  his  life.  He  fled  to  Saler- 
num  where  he  was  appointed  secretary  to 
Robert  Guiscard,  who  had  shortly  before 
captured  the  town.  He  soon,  however,  gave 
up  his  position  and  entered  the  monastery  at 
Monte  Casino  where  in  the  silent  cloister  he 
wrote  the  many  medical  works  which  have 
preserved  his  name.  These  were  chiefly  trans- 
lations of  and  commentaries  on  Arabian  and 
Greek  authors,  and  it  is  principally  to  the 
labors  of  Constantine  that  we  owe  the  in- 
jection of  Arabic  medicine,  such  as  it  was, 
into  the  medical  learning  of  Europe.  Con- 
[  10  ] 


stantine  died  in  1087.  Although  undoubtedly 
a  most  learned  man,  the  estimate  of  his  writ- 
ings given  by  Freind  in  his  "History  of  Physick," 
1750,  is  pretty  generally  adhered  to  by  modern 
authorities.  Freind  states  that  though  he 
compiled  many  books,  most  of  what  he  wrote 
was  merely  a  translation  of  the  works  of, the 
Greeks  and  Arabians,  and  in  many  instances 
he  was  guilty  of  gross  plagiarisms.  A  col- 
lected edition  of  the  works  of  Constantine 
was  published  at, Basle  in  1539.  •  *'j 

On  a  hill,  just  above  the  site  of  the  present 
city  of  Salerno,  thirty-five  miles  to  the  south- 
east of  Naples,  there  was  situated  the  ancient 
city  of  Salernum,  which  is  first  known  as  a 
Roman  colony  in  194  B.  C.  Because  of  its 
salubrious  situation  it  became  famous  as  a 
health  resort  at  an  early  period  in  its  history. 
After  the  Lombard  conquest  the  city  achieved 
great  importance.  In  1075  it  was  captured 
by  Robert  Guiscard,  the  Norman,  after  a 
siege  lasting  eight  months.  The  city  con- 
tinued to  prosper  until  it  was  sacked  and  its 
[  ii  1 


material  prosperity  ruined  by  the  Emperor 
Henry  VI,  in  1194. 

The  monks  of  Monte  Casino  early  realized 
the  importance  of  Salerno  as  a  health  resort, 
and  they  lost  no  time  in  extending  their  in- 
fluence to  that  town.  They  established  mon- 
asteries in  the  city  and  many  authorities 
consider  that  the  organization  of  the  medical 
school  of  Salerno  on  a  scholastic  basis  was 
chiefly  attributable  to  their  activities.  That 
the  teaching  of  medicine  was  carried  on  from 
a  very  early  period  at  Salerno  is  certain,  but 
the  origin  of  the  school  is  involved  in  great 
obscurity.  The  tradition  which  was  formerly 
most  generally  accepted  was  that  the  school 
was  founded  by  four  physicians,  a  Jew,  a 
Greek,  a  Saracen  and  a  Latin,  who  fore- 
gathered at  Salerno  about  the  middle  of  the 
seventh  century.  This  cosmopolitan  group 
was  supposed  to  explain  why  medicine,  as 
taught  at  Salerno,  embodied  the  learning  of 
all  nations.  The  prevalent  view  is  that  the 
school  had  no  definite  point  of  origin,  but 
[  12  1 


simply  grew  up  out  of  the  gathering  together 
of  many  sick  patients,  especially  those  of 
wealth,  for,  like  modern  resorts  of  a  similar 
nature,  the  majority  of  the  people  at  Salerno 
were  persons  of  means.  Salerno  was  right  in 
the  path  of  many  of  the  Crusaders  and  was 
a  favorite  stopping  place  for  them  both  on 
their  way  and  returning.  Thus  it  was  that 
Robert  of  Normandy,  to  whom  I  shall  refer 
later,  visited  Salerno,  and  there  were  thou- 
sands of  others  who  did  likewise. 

The  fact  that  the  town  was  a  resort  for 
those  who  engaged  in  the  holy  wars  would 
naturally  attract  the  monks  of  the  not  far 
distant  monastery,  and,  as  we  have  seen, 
they  hastened  to  erect  monasteries  and 
churches  in  its  midst.  At  these  shrines  were 
deposited  various  holy  relics  which  were  re- 
puted to  possess  miraculous  healing  properties, 
and  during  the  tenth  century  arose  a  cloud  of 
testimonials  not  only  to  the  healing  properties 
of  the  air  and  baths  and  to  the  skill  of  the 
physicians  of  Salerno,  but  an  immense  num- 
[  13  1 


her  of  tales  of  the  wonderful  cures  wrought 
at  its  altars  by  saintly  means.  There  were 
four  shrines  of  especial  importance  from  the 
medical  point  of  view.  They  were  those  in 
which  were  enclosed  the  relics  of  St.  Matthew, 
St.  Archelaus,  St.  Thecla  and  St.  Susanna. 

The  literary  activity  of  the  School  of 
Salerno  first  manifested  itself  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  eleventh  century.  There  exist  a 
series  of  treatises  which  are  by  different 
authors  manifesting  rather  an  erudite  knowl- 
edge of  the  writings  of  previous  authorities 
in  Arabic,  Greek  and  Latin  than  any  especial 
originality.  Among  the  earliest  known  au- 
thors of  Salerno  were  Gariopontus  and  Petro- 
cellus  or  Petronius.  The  former's  compila- 
tion entitled  "  Passionarius  G^leni"  was  long 
extolled  as  an  authority  on  therapeutics, 
although  it  is  said  to  be  an  almost  literal  copy 
of  a  work  by  Theodore  Priscianus~of  Constan- 
tinople. Gariopontus  wrote  about  1040.  Pet- 
rocellus  wrote  his  practice  about  1035.  One 
of  the  most  traditionally  famous  authors  of 
[14] 


Salerno  was  Trotula,  who  has  descended  in 
the  vernacular  to  quite  modern  times  as 
Mother  Trot.  Trotula  was  a  woman  of  noble 
family  who  not  only  wrote  but  taught  at 
Salerno.  She  wrote  on  obstetrics,  hygiene, 
and  many  other  medical  subjects,  about  the 
year  1059.  Malgaigne1  thought  that  he  had 
proved  that  although  Trotula  existed  and  was 
a  distinguished  female  resident  of  Salerno, 
there  was  no  evidence  that  she  had  anything 
to  do  with  the  authorship  of  the  works  attribu- 
ted to  her.  Trotula  is  stated,  by  those  who 
believe  in  her  authorship,  to  have  written 
two  books,  "De  Mulierum  Passionibus," 
generally  known  as  Trotula  Major,  and  a 
work  on  cosmetic  hygiene,  known  as  Trotula 
Minor.  De  Renzi  in  his  history  of  the  school 
of  Salerno  states  his  belief  that  Trotula  was 
the  wife  of  John  Platearius,  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  family  of  that  name  who  occupied  a 
professional  chair  at  Salerno.  In  looking  into 
the  question  of  the  authorship  of  books  written 

1  Introduction,  Les  (Euvres  d'Ambroise  Par£. 


in  the  ages  before  the  invention  of  printing, 
it  is  constantly  necessary  to  bear  in  mind 
that  titles,  authors'  names,  and  other  essential 
details  of  the  books  were  frequently  confused 
to  an  astonishing  degree,  because  the  suc- 
cessive copyists  by  the  necessary  frequency 
with  which  errors  were  made  led  to  a  consecu- 
tive increase  in  the  obscurity  as  to  many 
things  of  vital  import.  Very  often  the  copy- 
ist would  interpolate  contemporary  matters 
without  indicating  in  any  way  that  he  de- 
flected from  the  original.  Thus  Malgaigne 
studied  the  supposed  works  of  Trotula  in 
different  manuscripts  of  various  dates.  From 
his  researches  he  concluded  that  there  was 
no  reason  to  think  that  Trotula  was  really 
the  authoress  of  the  works,  as  the  name 
Trotula  was  only  used  in  the  title  as  "  Summa 
quae  dicitur  Trotula,"  but  nowhere  in  any 
of  the  manuscripts  was  there  any  distinct 
statement  that  Trotula  or  any  other  woman 
was  the  writer.  x  In  some  of  the  manuscripts 
the  name  Eros  is  used  for  Trotula.  Most 
[16] 


authorities  hold  with  de  Renzi,  however,  that 
Trotula  was  a  very  real  person  indeed  and 
worthy  of  all  the  posthumous  fame  she  had 
achieved.  There  were  other  women  besides 
Trotula  who  practiced  medicine  and  wrote 
on  medical  subjects  at  Salerno. 

In  the  fifteenth  century  Costanza  or 
Costanzella  Calenda,  a  woman  famous  alike 
for  her  beauty  and  intellectual  acquirements, 
received  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine. 

Abella  was  another  woman  who  wrote  on 
medical  topics  in  the  early  part  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  She  was  the  authoress  of  two 
treatises  in  Latin  verse,  "De  Natura  Seminis 
Hominis,"  and  the  other  "De  Atrabile." 

Rebecca  Guarna  and  a  lady  who  wrote 
under  the  name  of  Mercuriadis  also  wrote 
medical  books.  The  exact  dates  at  which 
these  three  females  flourished  are  uncertain, 
but  the  thirteenth  was  the  century  which 
witnessed  their  activities. 

Women  were  undoubtedly  admitted  to  the 
medical  course  at  Salerno  and  received  de- 
[  17] 


grees  and  licenses  to  practice.  There  is  no 
authentic  record,  however,  of  a  woman  having 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Faculty. 

Other  authors  of  Salerno  in  the  eleventh 
century  were  Johannes  Afflacius,  Bartholo- 
mseus,  the  two  Cophons,  and  Ferrarius. 
Archimathaeus  wrote  about  the  year  noo, 
two  works,  one  a  practice  of  medicine,  the 
other  a  guide  to  the  physician  on  his  com- 
portment and  bearing  to  his  patients.  Dar- 
emberg1  quotes  the  following  interesting  di- 
rections given  by  Archimathasus  for  the  guid- 
ance of  the  physician  on  his  professional 
visits : 

"When  the  physician  p-oes  to  visit  his  pa- 
tients he  should  place  himself  under  the 
protection  of  God  and  of  the  angel  who 
accompanied  Tobias.  On  his  way  he  will  try 
and  learn  from  the  person  who  came  to  fetch 
him  as  much  as  possible  of  the  condition  of 
the  patient  in  order  to  put  himself  au  courant 
of  the  affection  he  will  have  to  treat,  so  that 

1  Introduction  to  L'Ecole  de  Salerne  par  Ch.  Meaux  Saint-Marc. 
[  18] 


if,  after  having  examined  the  urine  and  felt 
the  pulse,  he  cannot  soon  learn  the  nature  of 
the  illness,  he  can  by  means  of  the  facts 
previously  ascertained  at  least  inspire  confi- 
dence in  the  patient  by  proving  to  him  that 
he  has  divined  something  of  the  nature  of  his 
sufferings.  It  is  well  that  the  sick  man  before 
the  arrival  of  the  physician  should  confess 
himself  or  undertake  to  do  so,  because  if  his 
doctor  finds  it  necessary  for  him  he  will 
believe  his  case  desperate,  and  the  inquietude 
will  aggravate  his  illness,  whereas  more  than 
one  sick  man  who  provides  against  the  re- 
proaches of  his  conscience  recovers  because 
of  his  reconciliation  with  the  Great  Physician. 
"On  his  entrance  the  physician  makes  his 
salutations  with  a  grave  and  modest  demeanor, 
seats  himself  to  take  breath,  praises,  if  oppor- 
tunity affords,  the  beauty  of  the  location,  the 
elegance  of  the  mansion,  the  generosity  of 
the  family,  in  this  way  gaining  the  good  will 
of  those  present  and  giving  the  sick  man  time 
to  regain  his  composure.  (Archimathseus  then 
[  19  1 


gives  minute  directions  as  to  feeling  the  pulse 
and  the  examination  of  the  urine.) 

"On  departing  the  physician  promises  the 
patient  he  shall  recover;  to  those  who  are 
about  the  sickbed,  however,  he  must  affirm 
that  the  patient  is  very  ill;  if  the  patient  re- 
covers the  physician's  reputation  will  be 
enhanced,  should  he  die  the  physician  can 
state  that  the  outcome  was  as  he  predicted. 
He  should  not  allow  his  eyes  to  fix  them- 
selves upon  the  wife  or  daughter,  however 
beautiful  they  may  be,  for  that  would  forfeit 
his  honor  and  compromise  the  welfare  of  the 
patient  by  drawing  upon  the  household  the 
anger  of  God.  If  he  is  requested  to  dine,  as 
is  the  custom,  he  must  show  himself  neither 
indiscreet  nor  greedy.  Unless  he  is  forced 
he  should  not  take  the  first  place  at  the  table, 
although  that  should  be  reserved  for  the  priest 
or  physician.  If  in  the  house  of  a  peasant 
he  should  taste  everything  without  finishing 
it,  remarking  on  the  rusticity  of  the  food; 
if,  on  the  contrary,  the  table  is  delicate,  he 
[20] 


should  not  yield  to  the  pleasure  of  the  appetite. 
He  should  ask  for  information  as  to  the  state 
of  the  patient  from  time  to  time,  who  will 
be  charmed  to  find  that  he  is  not  forgotten 
amidst  the  pleasures  of  the  repast.  Upon 
leaving  the  table  the  physician  must  go  to 
the  bedside  of  the  patient,  assure  him  how 
well  he  has  fared,  and  above  all  must  not 
forget  to  show  solicitude  as  to  the  regulation 
of  the  diet  of  the  sick  man." 

It  is  evident  that  there  was  a  good  bit  of 
charlatanry  mixed  with  the  medicine  of  the 
venerable  Archimathseus. 

Among  these  authors  should  be  mentioned 
especially  Cophon  the  Younger  who  wrote 
in  the  twelfth  century  a  book  on  the  anatomy 
of  the  pig,  "De  Anatomia  Porci,"  which  was 
probably  the  standard  textbook  of  anatomy 
at  the  School,  and  a  book  on  the  practice  of 
medicine,  "Ars  Medendi." 

Daremberg  spoke  in  terms  of  special  com- 
mendation of  the  writings  of  Cophon  the 
Younger,  stating  that  he  described  certain 

[21    ] 


conditions  not  referred  to  by  any  other  of 
the  Salernian  writers,  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  ulceration  of  the  palate,  scrofulous 
glands  in  the  neck,  and  condylomata.  He 
refers  to  the  custom  which  prevailed  with 
Cophon,  as  well  as  many  other  of  the  Saler- 
nians,  of  giving  different  prescriptions  to  be 
used  for  rich  patients  than  those  to  be  given 
to  patients  less  fortunately  situated.  This 
custom  was  not  the  result  of  any  desire  on 
the  physician's  part  to  make  invidious  dis- 
tinction, but  because  medicines  could  be  given 
in  a  more  agreeable  form  to  those  who  could 
afford  to  pay  for  the  gilding  of  the  pill.  Thus 
for  a  purge  for  a  person  of  noble  birth  Cophon 
recommended  rhubarb,  very  finely  powdered, 
while  for  peasants  he  used  mirobolanum 
macerated  with  or  without  sugar. 

Nicholas  Prsepositus,  who  flourished  in  the 
middle  of  the  twelfth  century,  was,  as  his 
name  implies,  director  of  the  School.  He 
wrote  an  Antidotarium  which  achieved  great 
fame  as  a  pharmacopoeia.  Nicholas  would 
[22] 


seem  to  have  been  an  ardent  ecclesiastic 
to  judge  from  the  religious  names  which  he 
gave  to  the  various  remedies  contained  in 
his  books,  such  as  Potio  Sancti  Pauli  or  the 
drink  of  St.  Paul;  Emplastrum  Apostolicon 
or  the  apostolic  plaster.  Most  of  his  remedies 
were  nauseous  mixtures  of  many  ingredients. 
He  also  wrote  a  little  book  called  "Quid  pro 
quo,"  which  gave  a  list  of  the  drugs  which 
could  be  substituted  for  one  another  in  case 
of  difficulty  in  procuring  any  special  prepara- 
tion. 

Matthew  Platearius  was  another  twelfth- 
century  author  of  Salerno  and  a  member  of  a 
family  who  supplied  the  school  with  several 
of  its  faculty.  Much  confusion  exists  among 
writers  as  to  individuals  of  the  Platearius 
family.  Daremberg  said  that  there  were 
three,  two  named  John  and  one  named 
Matthew;  all  held  chairs  at  Salerno. 

Master  Bernard,  the  Provincial,  also  wrote 
on  pharmacy  at  this  epoch.  To  him  we  owe 
the  preservation  of  many  curious  prescrip- 
[2.3  ] 


tions  in  vogue  in  his  time.  Bernard  had  an 
especially  tender  regard  for  the  stomachs  of 
archbishops.  He  particularly  recommends 
wine  for  them  and  states  that  he  discovered 
from  his  experience  in  the  case  of  Archbishop 
Alphanus  that  it  was  not  wise  to  give  arch- 
bishops vomitive  medicines  on  an  empty 
stomach,  but  only  after  a  meal. 

Musandinus  who  flourished  about  the  middle 
of  the  twelfth  century  was  the  author  of  a 
book  on  the  preparation  of  food  and  drink 
for  the  sick  (De  modo  prseparandi  cibos  et 
potus  infirmorum). 

The  most  famous  of  the  twelfth-century 
authors,  however,  was  ^Egidius  Corboliensis. 
He  was  a  native  of  Corbeil,  near  Paris,  and 
after  studying  at  Salerno,  he  returned  to  the 
French  capital  to  practice.  He  was  physician 
to  Philip  Augustus  and  wrote  several  books 
in  Latin  verse,  one  on  the  pulse  (De  Pulsibus), 
one  on  the  urine  (De  Urinus)  and  a  larger  one 
on  medicaments. 

The  best  known  literary  product  of  Salerno 
[24! 


was  the  famous  poem  which  survived  many 
hundreds  of  years  in  great  esteem  as  a  stand- 
ard textbook,  and  which  is  the  best  known 
literary  survival  of  medieval  medicine. 

Before  the  invention  of  printing  the  Schola 
Salernitana  or  Regimen  Sanitatis  Salerni- 
tanum  (sometimes  called  the  Flos  Medicinse 
Salerni  and  Medicina  Salernitana)  was  spread 
over  the  civilized  world  in  innumerable  manu- 
script copies.  Sir  Alexander  Croke1  in  his 
edition  of  the  poem  enumerates  twenty  edi- 
tions which  ware  printed  between  the  years 
1480  and  1500,  and  Baudry  de  Balzac  stated 
that  to  1846,  240  editions  of  the  poem  were 
printed,  and  that  there  existed  more  than 
loo  manuscript  copies  in  European  libraries. 

The  poem  was  written  as  a  work  of  medical 
advice  for  the  benefit  of  Robert,  Duke  of 
Normandy,  the  eldest  son  of  William  the 
Conqueror.2  Robert  had  been  a  rebellious 

1  Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum,  edited  by  Sir  Alexander  Croke, 
Oxford,  1830. 

2  Daremberg  thinks  the  poem  was  not  especially  written  for 
Duke  Robert. 


5  7  6  3  7 


son  and  had  actually  wounded  his  own  father 
in  a  battle  in  1079.  The  Conqueror  forgave 
him  and  in  1087,  when  William  died,  Robert 
became  Duke  of  Normandy,  while  his  younger 
brother  became  King  of  England.  It  is  un- 
necessary to  dwell  upon  the  fraternal  feuds 
in  which  the  sons  of  William  the  Conqueror 
indulged  after  their  stern  father's  death.  In 
1096,  Robert  was  seized  with  the  crusading 
ardor  and  to  raise  funds  for  the  purpose 
mortgaged  his  dukedom  to  his  brother  William 
for  10,000  marks.  On  his  way  to  the  Holy 
Land  he  passed  a  winter  at  Salerno,  which 
was  the  capital  of  the  Duchy  of  Apulia, 
whose  reigning  duke,  Ruggiero,  was  related  to 
Robert.  The  two  dukes  seemed  to  have  en- 
joyed one  another's  society  immensely,  and 
had  a  mutually  agreeable  time. 

Before  sailing  in  April,  Robert  repaired  to 
Monte  Casino  and  received  the  benediction 
of  the  monks.  Finally  he  arrived  with  his 
followers  in  the  Holy  Land,  aided  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Jerusalem,  and  the  establishment  of 
[  26] 


Godfrey  de  Bouillon  as  king  of  the  conquered 
land.  In  September,  1099,  Duke  Robert 
returned  to  Salerno  where  Duke  Ruggiero 
welcomed  him  once  more  to  the  hospitalities 
of  his  court.  Here  the  returned  warrior  fell 
in  love  with  Sybilla,  daughter  of  the  Count 
of  Conversano,  and  was  married  to  her.  One 
reason  for  Duke  Robert's  return  to  Salerno  is 
said  to  have  been  to  seek  relief  in  the  skill  of 
its  physicians  for  a  poisoned  wound  of  the 
arm  which  he  had  received  in  the  war.  A 
romantic  tale  states  that  the  physicians  told 
him  that  there  was  but  one  chance  for  his 
recovery.  This  was  to  have  the  poison 
sucked  from  his  wound.  His  affectionate 
wife  volunteered  for  this  service,  but  the  Duke 
sternly  refused  to  consider  the  proposition. 
Sybilla,  not  to  be  daunted,  waited  until  he 
was  sound  asleep  one  night  and  then  pro- 
ceeded to  suck  the  wound,  with  most  wonder- 
ful results,  as  it  healed  as  if  by  magic.  As 
the  result  of  a  year  passed  in  pleasant  dalliance 
at  the  court  of  Duke  Ruggiero,  Robert  lost 
[27] 


the  crown  of  England,  for  while  he  was  there 
William  Rufus  died,  and  although  Robert 
was  acknowledged  as  his  successor  by  his 
companions  in  Italy,  his  brother  Henry  had 
secured  actual  possession  of  the  throne  of 
England.  Robert  tried  for  some  years  to 
dispose  of  his  brother,  but  was  finally,  at  the 
battle  of  Tenchebrai,  in  1106,  taken  prisoner 
by  Henry  and  passed  the  last  twenty-eight 
years  of  his  life  in  captivity. 

Attempts  have  been  made  to  question  the 
statement  that  the  poem  was  intended  for 
Duke  Robert,  but  Sir  Alexander  Croke  in  the 
edition  which  he  so  ably  edited  advanced 
reasons  which  he  thought  should  settle  the 
point  decisively.  He  states  the  poem  was 
evidently  written  as  early  as  the  end  of  the 
eleventh  century  (Duke  Robert's  time),  because 
it  is  imitated  and  referred  to  by  ^Egidius  Cor- 
boliensis  in  the  middle  of  the  twelfth  century, 
and  because  of  the  early  imitations  of  it  at 
the  universities  of  Paris  and  Montpellier. 
In  the  second  place,  no  other  king  of  England 
[28] 


was  connected  with  Salerno,  as  was  Duke 
Robert.  Richard  Cceur  de  Lion  stopped  at 
Salerno  on  his  way  to  Palestine  but  this  was 
in  1199,  long  after  the  poem  was  in  circulation. 
Doubt  has  been  cast  on  its  being  Robert  be- 
cause he  never  became  king  of  England  de 
facto.  Croke  states,  however,  that  in  many 
ancient  writings  Robert  is  distinctly  referred 
to  as  King  of  England.  He  quotes  a  passage 
from  Peter  Diaconus  in  which  he  is  termed 
Robertus  rex  Anglorum.  Thirdly,  as  Croke 
says,  there  is  the  internal  evidence  arising  from 
the  recipe  for  the  cure  of  a  fistulous  wound, 
which  was  the  nature  of  Duke  Robert's  com- 
plaint, and  which  would  indicate  that  the 
person  for  whom  it  was  written  suffered 
from  it.1 

The  authorship  of  the  Regimen  is  a  matter 
of  some  doubt.  Daremberg  considered  it  of 
composite  authorship,  but  it  is  generally  as- 
appended  to  this  brief  history  will  be  found  a  most  valuable 
introductory  note  by  Dr.  Fielding  H.  Garrison  in  which  he  gives  a 
succinct  account  of  the  latest  views  held  by  Sudhoff  and  other  Ger- 
man investigators  on  this  subject. 


cribed  to  one  John  of  Milan,  who  is  supposed 
to  have  been  the  head  of  the  faculty  of  the 
School  of  Salerno  at  the  time  it  was  written. 
Some  of  the  earliest  manuscript  copies  of  the 
poem  bear  his  name,  yet  as  Croke1  says, 
Arnold  of  Villa  Nova,  the  earliest  commen- 
tator on  the  poem,  who  died  in  1313,  states 
that  it  was  published  by  the  doctors  of 
Salerno.  He  adds,  that  although  the  name, 
John  of  Milan,  is  not  found  in  any  of  the  lists 
of  the  learned  men  connected  with  either  the 
monastery  of  Monte  Casino  or  the  School  of 
Salerno,  "Yet  that  it  should  be  so  generally 
ascribed,  in  later  times,  to  a  person  whose 
very  name  is  not  elsewhere  to  be  found,  unless 
it  were  known  from  undisputed  and  indevi- 
ating  tradition,  and  ancient  authorities,  it  is 
difficult  to  conceive." 

The  Regimen  is  really  a  handbook  of  do- 
mestic medicine.  It  was  not  intended  for 
the  medical  profession,  but  for  the  guidance 
of  laymen,  primarily  King  Robert,  but  its 

1  Edition  of  the  Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum,  Oxford,  1830. 
[33] 


merits  were  such  that  the  demand  for  it  led 
to  its  being  copied  many  times  and  translated 
into  many  tongues.  It  was  quite  customary, 
in  the  days  before  printing,  to  write  in  verse 
upon  any  subject,  medical,  theological,  his- 
torical, etc.,  because  it  was  so  much  easier 
to  memorize  than  prose  and  could  thus  be- 
come more  generally  diffused  and  readily 
transmitted.  Many  manuscript  copies  are 
still  in  existence  in  the  libraries  of  Europe 
and  England.  The  Bodleian  Library  at  Ox- 
ford and  the  British  Museum  each  contain 
several.  As  in  all  books  which  went  through 
numerous  copyings,  the  text  varies  greatly. 
Thus  the  text  commented  upon  by  Arnold  of 
Villa  Nova  contains  about  363  lines,  and  some 
of  the  other  manuscript  editions  contain  even 
less,  while  in  other  manuscripts  the  poem  is 
swelled  to  over  a  thousand  lines.  The  manu- 
script as  given  by  Arnold  of  Villa  Nova  is 
regarded  as  the  most  authentic  of  all  the 
texts,  because  he  lived  (in  the  thirteenth 
century)  nearer  the  date  of  its  composition 


than  any  other  known  commentator,  and  was 
often  in  Sicily  in  the  immediate  neighborhood 
of  the  place  where  it  was  composed. 

Arnold  of  Villa  Nova  (1235  ?-i3 1 1)  was  born 
near  Valencia.  He  studied  medicine  at  Paris 
and  Montpellier,  and  at  the  latter  place  taught 
for  ten  years.  He  was  a  very  learned  man, 
knowing  Hebrew  and  Arabic  as  well  as  Greek 
and  Latin.  He  became  physician  to  three  popes 
and  was  the  physician  and  intimate  coun- 
sellor of  the  Kings  of  Arragon  and  of  Sicily. 
He  was  a  friend  of  Raymond  Lully,  the  peri- 
patetic alchemist,  to  whom  Arnold  taught  the 
art  of  making  brandy  from  wine.  Arnold  is 
said  to  have  been  the  first  to  use  brandy 
medicinally.  He  is  stated  to  have  composed 
a  tincture  of  gold  wherewith  he  cured  Pope 
Innocent  V  of  the  plague.  Arnold  was  a  bold 
man  and  an  independent  thinker;  and  after 
1299  was  largely  engaged  in  schemes  of  ec- 
clesiastical and  social  reformation.  He  was 
accused  of  practicing  alchemy  and  of  holding 
heretical  opinions.  It  was  for  Frederic  of 
[32] 


Sicily  that  Arnold  edited  his  edition  of  the 
Regimen.  In  spite  of  his  disfavor  with  the 
Inquisition,  Pope  Clement  V  held  him  in 
high  esteem,  because  in  1313  that  pontiff 
wrote  letters  to  all  those  whom  he  thought 
might  help  in  his  search  requesting  that  they 
aid  him  in  recovering  a  book,  "De  Praxi 
Medica,"  which  Arnold  of  Villa  Nova  had 
promised  to  send  him.  Villa  Nova  died  be- 
fore the  book  was  actually  sent.  Another 
pope,  Boniface  VIII,  was  accused  of  heresy 
because  he  approved  of  the  writings  of  Arnold. 
In  Croke's  edition  of  the  Regimen  he  gives 
the  Latin  text  of  Arnold  of  Villa  Nova  and 
expresses  his  opinion  that  the  version  he 
reprints  is  nearer  the  original  as  written  at 
Salerno  than  any  other  known  manuscript. 

The  version  of  the  Regimen  Sanitatis 
Salernitanum  which  Sir  Alexander  Croke  used 
as  the  text  for  his  English  reprint  in  1830  is 
reprinted  from  an  English  edition  published 
anonymously  in  1607  under  the  title,  "The 
Englishmans  Doctor  or  the  Schoole  of  Salerne, 
[33  1 


or  Physicall  Observations  for  the  Perfect  Pre- 
serving of  the  Body  of  Man  in  Continuall 
Health." 

All  the  translations  into  the  popular  tongues 
of  other  nations  bear  the  same  character  as 
the  English  version,  namely,  that  of  a  series  of 
wise  maxims  written  in  plain  language  on  the 
care  of  the  health. 

In  the  year  1224,  the  Emperor  Frederick  II, 
the  Hohenstauifen,  published  a  decree  which 
may  be  regarded  as  setting  the  seal  of  glory 
on  Salerno.  Already  King  Roger  III  had 
recognized  it  by  an  edict  as  the  source  from 
which  it  was  necessary  to  obtain  authority  to 
practice  in  his  kingdom  of  the  two  Sicilies. 
By  the  decree  of  Frederick  II,  in  1224,  it 
was  ordered  that  thenceforth  no  one  should  be 
permitted  to  practice  medicine  in  the  king- 
dom of  the  two  Sicilies  without  having  under- 
gone an  examination  before  the  faculty  of 
Salerno.  In  order  to  be  eligible  for  this 
examination  it  was  necessary  for  the  candidate 
to  prove  the  legitimacy  of  his  birth,  to  have 
[34] 


reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  to 
have  studied  medicine  for  at  least  seven  years. 
He  was  examined  in  the  works  of  Hippoc- 
rates, Galen,  and  Avicenna,  and  in  the 
works  of  Aristotle.  If  he  passed  a  satisfactory 
examination  he  was  given  the  title  of  Magister, 
the  term  doctor  being  used  chiefly  at  that 
time  to  indicate  one  who  taught,  or  was  a 
professor.  In  a  decree  subsequent  to  that  of 
1224,  it  was  ordered  that  before  undertaking 
the  study  of  medicine,  the  candidate  should 
have  studied  at  least  three  years  in  logic. 
He  was  then  required  to  study  for  five  years 
in  the  medical  school,  after  which  he  under- 
went a  rigid  examination.  After  his  gradu- 
ation he  was  required  to  practice  for  a  year 
as  an  assistant  or  a  sort  of  apprentice  to  an 
older  practitioner.  It  is  curious  to  find  that 
during  the  five  years  that  the  student  pursued 
his  curriculum  he  was  authorized  to  teach 
and  expound  the  writings  of  Hippocrates  and 
Galen.  Other  decrees  ordained  the  charges 
which  were  permitted  by  physicians  for  their 
[3Sl 


services,  regulated  the  apothecaries,  requiring 
them  to  pass  an  examination  and  make  only 
certain  charges,  and  also  set  forth  the  training 
necessary  for  those  who  desired  to  practice 
surgery.  In  order  to  obtain  a  license  as  a 
surgeon  it  was  necessary  to  study  anatomy 
for  a  year  at  the  School  of  Salerno  or  the 
University  of  Naples  and  pass  a  rigid  exam- 
ination. 

Physicians  were  absolutely  forbidden  to 
accept  fees  or  commissions  from  apothecaries 
or  to  have  any  financial  interest  in  apothecary 
shops.  The  fees  to  be  charged  by  physicians 
were  fixed  and  there  were  rigid  ordinances 
concerning  the  sale  of  poisons  and  of  love 
philtres  or  other  charms,  and  the  manage- 
ment of  contagious  diseases. 

To  Roger  of  Parma,  a  graduate  of  the 
School  of  Salerno  in  the  early  part  of  the 
thirteenth  century,  is  generally  ascribed  the 
honor  of  founding  modern  surgery.  Roger, 
after  graduating,  taught  for  a  time  at  Salerno 
before  going  to  Montpellier  where,  according 
[36] 


to  Sprengel,  he  became  chancellor  of  the 
University,  although  Malgaigne  believes  that 
it  was  not  he  but  another  Roger  who  held 
this  office.  In  1180  he  wrote  his  Chirurgia. 
In  this  work  he  advocated  the  application  of 
wet  dressings  and  ointments  to  wounds,  in 
order  to  favor  coction  and  the  formation  of 
what  was  subsequently  for  many  generations 
known  as  "laudable  pus."  This  teaching 
prevailed  for  many  years  and  although,  as 
we  shall  see,  it  was  originally  opposed,  its 
pernicious  influence  did  untold  harm.1  Roger 
fractured  the  bones  in  order  to  remedy  badly 
set  fractures.  In  the  treatment  of  scrofulous 
ulcers  and  broken  down  glands  he  used  tents 
made  of  sponge,  and  he  used  setons  as  a 
means  of  counterirritation.  Roger  used  the 
ligature  if  cauterization  and  styptics  failed  to 
check  hemorrhage.  He  also  used  the  suture. 

1  For  a  most  authoritative  and  interesting  summary  of  chis 
and  other  subjects,  the  address  of  Dr.  Clifford  Allbutt  on  "The 
Historical  Relations  of  Medicine  and  Surgery, "  read  at  the  St.  Louis 
Congress  in  1904  and  since  published  in  book  form,  should  be  read. 
Its  learned  author  sums  up  in  a  limited  space  the  gist  of  the  entire 
subject. 

[37] 


Roland  of  Parma,  who  flourished  in  the 
middle  of  the  thirteenth  century,  was  Roger's 
most  distinguished  disciple.  He  wrote  a 
surgery  which  in  reality  is  merely  a  com- 
mentary on  the  works  of  his  master,  inter- 
spersed with  some  original  views  of  his 
own. 

About  the  year  1270,  there  was  written  at 
Salerno  a  book,  "Glossulse  Quatuor  Magis- 
trorum  Super  Chirurgium  Rogerii  et  Rolandi," 
which  purported  to  be  a  commentary  by  four 
of  the  faculty  of  Salerno  on  the  surgeries  of 
Roger  and  Roland.  This  commentary  of  the 
Four  Masters  was  widely  copied  and  regarded 
as  an  authoritative  work  on  surgery  for  many 
generations.  A  number  of  manuscript  copies 
are  contained  in  the  libraries  of  Europe  and 
England.1  The  commentary  of  the  Four 
Masters  naturally  advocated  wet  dressings, 
fomentations  and  ointments.  Many  bold 
surgical  procedures  are  described  in  it.  The 

^aremberg  Ipublished  an  edition  at  Paris  in  1854.  This  is 
readily  accessible  and  is  accompanied  by  the  most  illuminating  notes. 

[38] 


use  of  the  ligature  is  dwelt  upon,  and  trephin- 
ing, operations  on  aneurisms,  and  goitre  are 
described.  In  reading  this  or  other  medieval 
works  one  is  struck  with  the  frequent  mention 
of  surgical  measures  such  as  the  ligature,  many 
of  them  known  even  in  much  more  ancient 
times,  which  were  subsequently  allowed  to 
lapse  entirely  from  view.  Operations  for 
vesical  calculus  and  anal  fistula  are  well 
described. 

The  thirteenth  century  witnessed  the  birth 
of  the  intellectual  movement  which  was  ulti- 
mately to  burst  in  the  glory  of  the  Renais- 
sance. In  it  the  great  universities  of  Europe, 
many  of  which  continue  to  flourish,  first 
showed  signs  of  real  life.  Crowds  of  students 
flocked  to  Paris  and  Montpellier,  or  to  Bo- 
logna and  Padua,  and  the  great  Emperor 
Frederick  II  founded  the  universities  of 
Naples  and  Messina  which  under  his  fos- 
tering care  showed  marvelous  growth,  and 
threw  their  more  ancient  rival  at  Salerno 
into  the  shade. 

[39] 


As  the  University  of  Naples  grew  in  the 
importance  of  its  professors  and  the  numbers 
of  its  students,  Salerno  gradually  declined. 
No  great  names  illumine  the  roll  of  its  faculty, 
and  from  the  thirteenth  century  it  steadily 
lost  standing.  One  of  the  last  tokens  of  re- 
spect which  it  received  was  in  1748,  when  the 
Faculty  of  Medicine  of  Paris  referred  to  the 
Faculty  of  Salerno  the  subject  of  the  relative 
standing  of  the  physicians  and  surgeons  in 
France,  a  matter  over  which  professional 
opinion  in  that  country  was  so  heated  that 
it  was  deemed  necessary  to  derive  aid  from 
outside  in  its  settlement,  and  the  traditional 
reputation  of  Salerno  led  to  resort  being 
made  to  this  authority.  In  1811,  the  School 
of  Salerno  was  formally  abolished  by  the 
decree  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon.  In  its  place 
a  lycee  medicate  or  secondary  school  of  medicine 
was  established.  Daremberg  visited  Salerno 
in  1848  and  tells  how  he  found  absolutely  no 
trace  of  the  medical  school  which  had  once 
been  its  glory.  "No  echo  of  tradition;  not  a 
[40] 


stone  of  the  ancient  edifice;  not  one  manu- 
script in  a  library;  not  even  a  good  edition  of 
the  Regimen  Salernitanum  in  the  home  of 
the  only  doctor,  Santorelli,  in  whom  the  old 
remembrances  were  not  extinct." 

It  became  the  custom  for  students  as  well 
as  teachers  to  travel  from  one  city  to  another 
in  search  of  learning.  In  this  peripatetic 
fashion  not  only  did  the  seeker  of  wisdom 
derive  what  he  sought,  but  learning  was  more 
generally  diffused  and  the  scope  of  men's 
minds  broadened  and  mellowed.  From  this 
time  it  is  almost  impossible  to  assign  a  teacher 
to  one  particular  school,  as  they  not  only 
taught  as  a  rule  in  more  than  one,  but  also 
went  to  several  to  obtain  their  education. 
Unfortunately  in  almost  every  centre  of  learn- 
ing the  same  slavish  submission  to  tradition 
prevailed,  and  scholasticism  and  superstition 
benighted  the  minds  of  those  who  should  have 
led  the  fight  for  intellectual  freedom.  The 
influence  of  the  Arabs  had  overshadowed  the 
pure  Greek^tradition.  Very  few  of  the  scholars 
[41  1 


of  France  or  of  Italy  had  any  knowledge  of 
Greek,  and  Hippocratic  medicine  was  known 
to  them  solely  through  the  medium  of  its 
Arabic  and  monkish  translators  who  dis- 
figured and  corrupted  it  by  the  introduction 
of  their  fantastic,  superstitious  and  nauseating 
interpolations. 

Sir  Alexander  Croke  (1758-1824)  was  a 
distinguished  English  lawyer  and  scholar, 
who,  in  addition  to  publishing  many  legal 
works,  attained  distinction  as  a  student  of 
Latin  and  Greek.  In  1830  he  published  the 
little  volume  in  which  was  contained  the 
Latin  text  of  the  "Regimen  Sanitatis  Salerni- 
tanum,"  with  a  translation  into  English,  pub- 
lished anonymously,  in  the  year  1607.  The 
book  contains  a  learned  dissertation  on  the 
Latin  poetry  as  used  in  the  composition  of 
the  School  of  Salerno,  with  an  historical  in- 
troduction and  numerous  notes.  It  has  long 
been  out  of  print  and  difficult  to  obtain. 

In  the  present  edition  we  have  reproduced 
the  Latin  text  used  by  Croke,  which  was 
[42] 


published  in  1491,  with  the  following  title: 
"Regimen  Sanitatis,  cum  expositione  Magistri 
Arnaldi  de  Villa  Nova.  Incipit  Regimen 
Sanitatis  Salernitanum  excellentissimum  pro 
conservatione  sanitatis  totius  humani  generis 
perutilissimum:  nee  non  a  Magistro  Arnoldo 
de  Villa  Nova  Cathelano  omnium  medicorum 
viventium  gemma,  utiliter,  ac  secundum  om- 
nium antiquorum  medicorum  doctrinam  vera- 
citer  expositum:  noviter  correctum  ac  emem- 
datum  per  egregissimos  ac  medicinse  artis 
peritissimos  Doctores  Montispessulani  re- 
gentes,  anno  MCCCCLXXX,  predicto  loco 
actu  moram  trahentes."  At  the  end,  "Hoc 
opus  optatur  quod  flos  medicinse  vocatur. 
Tractatus  qui  de  Regimine  Sanitatis  nuncu- 
patur  finit  feliciter  impressus  Argen:  (Stras- 
burg) :  Anno  Domini  MCCCCXCI,  in  die 
Sancti  Thomae  Cantuariensis.  Apud  me." 
Croke  compared  and  corrected  it  with  other 
editions  of  the  same  century.  The  English 
text  used  by  Croke  was  published  anony- 
mously in  1607,  with  the  following  title: 
[43  1 


"The  Englishmans  Doctor  or,  Schoole  of 
Salerne.  Or,  Physicall  Observations  for  the 
perfect  Preserving  of  the  Body  of  Man  in 
continuall  Health.  London :  Printed  for  John 
Helme,  and  John  Busby  Junior  and  are  to  be 
solde  at  the  little  shop,  next  Cliffords  Inne- 
gate,  in  Fleet-streete.  1607." 

In  1870  Dr.  John  Ordronaux,  professor  of 
medical  jurisprudence  in  the  Law  School  of 
Columbia  College,  New  York,  published  his 
edition:  "Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum. 
Code  of  Health  of  the  School  of  Salernum, 
translated  into  English  verse,  with  an  Intro- 
duction, Notes  and  Appendix."  Professor 
Ordronaux  reprinted  the  Latin  text  of  the 
edition  published  at  Rotterdam  by  Zaccharias 
Sylvius  in  1657,  which  he  considered  the 
editio  recepta.  It  was  entitled  "  Schola  Saler- 
nitana,  sive  De  Conservanda  Valetudine  Prse- 
cepta  Metrica.  Autore  Joanne  de  Mediolano 
(hactenus  ignoti)  cum  luculenta  et  succinta 
Arnoldi  Villanovani  in  singula  capita  exegesi. 
Ex  recensione  Zacchariae  Sylvii.  Medici  Rot- 
[44l 


erodamensis.  Cum  ejusdem  Prsefatione. 
Nova  editio,  melior  et  aliquot  Medicis  opus- 
culis  auction  Roterodami.  Ex:  Officina  Ar- 
noldi  Leers,  1657."  This  text  differs  in 
places  from  the  Latin  text  of  the  1491  edition 
given  by  Croke,  particularly  in  the  inclusion 
of  the  additions  by  way  of  commentaries  of 
Arnold  of  Villa  Nova.  The  variations  from 
the  text  of  Croke's  edition  have  been  placed 
in  footnotes  in  the  present  edition,  our  object 
being  to  give  the  reader  as  nearly  a  final 
Latin  text  as  possible.  Professor  Ordronaux 
also  added  to  his  text  the  additions  made  to 
the  text  of  Arnold  of  Villa  Nova  by  Darem- 
berg  in  the  edition  published  in  Paris  in  1861. 
As  Daremberg  derived  these  from  various 
Salernian  authors  other  than  those  who  might 
be  regarded  as  the  authors  of  the  original 
"Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum"  and  there- 
fore entirely  extraneous  to  it,  they  have  not 
been  included  in  the  present  reprint. 

The  English  translation  made  by  Professor 
Ordronaux  is   a  free  one,  and  though  more 
[45  1 


polished  and  poetical  than  the  old  English 
translations  is,  by  consequence,  no  more 
literal. 

The  most  complete  of  the  modern  editions  of 
the  "Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum"  is  that 
originally  published  in  1 860  by  Daremberg. 
This  has  been  republished  with  additional 
commentaries,  in  1880,  with  the  following 
title:  "L'Ecole  de  Salerne,  traduction  en 
vers  Francais  par  Ch.  Meaux  Saint-Marc, 
avec  le  texte  Latin.  Precedee  d'une  intro- 
duction par  le  docteur  Ch.  Daremberg,  et 
suivie  de  commentaires  avec  figures.  Paris, 
J.  B.  Bailliere  et  fils,  1880."  In  this  edition 
the  Latin  text  is  much  longer  than  that  given 
.in  those  of  Croke  and  Ordronaux,  and  there 
are  very  full  notes  and  commentaries.  The 
Latin  text,  however,  contains  matter  of  periods 
very  much  later  than  the  date  of  the  original 
composition,  and  written  by  authors  who 
lived  several  centuries  after  the  time  at  which 
it  was  composed.  These  additions  though 
possessing  much  intrinsic  interest  cannot, 
[46] 


therefore,  be  justly  considered  as  representing 
the  body  corporate  of  the  original. 

The  English  text  which  is  reproduced  in 
this  edition  is  that  of  Sir  John  Harington 
which  was  first  published  in  1607.  Harington 
was  one  of  the  most  characteristically  Eliza- 
bethan of  the  courtiers  of  the  Virgin  Queen. 
He  was  born  in  1561.  His  father's  first  wife 
was  a  natural  daughter  of  Henry  VIII,  who 
had  been  richly  endowed  by  that  parent  with 
the  confiscated  estates  of  several  religious  es- 
tablishments. She  died  without  issue,  leaving 
her  property  to  her  husband,  who  remarried, 
this  time  with  one  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  gentle- 
women, by  whom  he  had  John,  the  translator  of 
the  ''Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum."  As  the 
father  had  loyally  stood  by  Elizabeth  when  she 
was  in  the  distress  which  beset  her  prior  to 
her  ascent  to  the  throne,  the  latter  befriended 
him  after  that  event.  She  acted  as  godmother 
to  his  son  John,  and  throughout  the  latter's 
eventful  life  she  remained  his  benefactor 
although  her  patience  must  have  been  sorely 
[471 


tried  by  some  of  his  innumerable  escapades. 
Sir  John  Harington  was  a  man  of  culture  and 
esteemed  a  great  wit  by  his  contemporaries. 
He  wrote  a  number  of  books,  many  of  them 
showing  a  ribald  vein.  He  is  the  inventor  of 
the  modern  water-closet  which  is  described  in 
a  work  entitled  "A  New  Discourse  of  a  Stale 
Subject  called  the  Metamorphosis  of  Ajax. 
London,  1 596."  In  Elizabeth's  time  a  common 
term  for  privies  was  the  jakes  (see  Prof.  Adams' 
article  on  Harington  in  the  Johns  Hopkins 
Hospital  Bulletin,  Oct.,  1908).  His  translation 
of  Orlando  Furioso,  published  in  1591,  is  said 
to  have  been  brought  about  as  a  punishment. 
He  had  written  and  circulated  in  manuscript 
among  the  ladies  of  the  court,  a  translation  of 
the  twenty-eighth  book,  containing  the  story 
of  Gioconda.  Queen  Elizabeth  scolded  him 
for  circulating  such  an  improper  piece  of 
literature  among  the  women  of  her  court,  and 
as  a  punishment  ordered  that  he  remain  in 
retirement  in  the  country  until  he  had  trans- 
lated the  entire  work,  in  lieu  of  only  the  im- 
[48! 


proper  portion.  He  got  into  serious  trouble 
with  his  royal  mistress  in  connection  with  the 
Irish  expedition,  on  which  he  accompanied  the 
ill-starred  favorite,  Essex.  He  wrote  many  epi- 
grams which  have  been  published  and  at  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1612,  left  several 
manuscripts  bearing  on  contemporary  history 
which  were  published  many  years  after  his 
death.  Just  why  Harington  undertook  the 
publication  of  his  English  version  of  the 
"Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum"  is  not 
known.  He  was  appointed  as  one  of  those  to 
look  after  the  education  of  Prince  Henry,  and 
it  is  possible  he  thought  the  book  might  con- 
tain matter  of  service  to  his  youthful  charge.1 
I  have  appended  a  list  of  a  few  of  the  books 
which  are  most  readily  accessible  bearing  upon 
the  subject  of  the  School  of  Salerno.  A  full 
bibliography  of  the  subject  would  require 
many  pages.  The  following  will  cover  the 
subject  as  fully  as  would  be  necessary  for  the 

Opposite  page  75  is  reproduced  the  first  page  of  a  MS  of 
Harington's  translation  in  possession  of  Professor  Osier,  in  a  scribe's 
hand,  but  with  Harington's  own  corrections.  , 

[491 


general  reader,  and  as  the  books  of  both 
Daremberg  and  Croke  contain  copious  bibli- 
ographies, I  have  not  thought  it  necessary  to 
repeat  them. 

L'Ecole  de  Salerne  et  les  medicins  Salernitains. 
G.  Becavin.  Paris,  1888. 

Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum.  A  poem  on  the 
preservation  of  the  health  in  rhyming  Latin  verse. 
Addressed  by  the  Sehool  of  Salerno  to  Robert  of 
Normandy,  son  of  William  the  Conqueror,  with  an 
ancient  translation;  and  an  introduction  and  notes 
by  Sir  Alexander  Croke.  Oxford,  England,  1830. 

Glossulae  Quatuor  Magistrorum  super  chirurgiam 
Rogerii  et  Rolandi.  Nunc  primum  ad  fidem  Codies 
Mazarieni  edidit.  Charles  Daremberg.  Paris,  1854. 

Storia  documentata  della  scuola  medica  di  Salerno,  by 
S.  De  Renzi,  2nd  edition,  Naples,  1857. 

Collectio  Salernitana;  ossia  documenti  inediti,  e  trat- 
tati  di  medicina  appartenenti  alia  scuola  medica 
Salernitana,  raccolti  e  illustrati  da  G.  E.  T. 
Henschel,  C.  Daremberg,  e  S.  Renzi  premessa  la 
storia  della  scuolare  publicata  a  cura  di  S.  e 
Renzi.  Napoli,  1852-1859. 
[Sol 


The  School  of  Salernum,  by  H.  E.  Handerson.  An 
address  read  before  the  Medical  Society  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  1883. 

(Euvres  completes  d'Ambroise  Pare  revues  et  cclla- 
tionees  sur  toutes  les  editions,  avec  les  variantes; 
ornees  de  217  planches  et  du  portrait  de  1'auteur; 
accompagnees  de  notes  historiques  et  critiques;  et 
precedees  d'une  introduction  sur  1'origine  et  les 
progres  de  la  chirurgie  en  Occident  du  sixieme  au 
seizieme  siecle,  et  sur  la  vie  et  les  ouvrages  d'Am- 
broise Pare,  par  J.  F.  Malgaigne.  Paris,  1840. 

Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum.  Code  of  health  of 
the  School  of  Salernum.  Translated  into  English 
verse  with  an  introduction,  notes  and  appendix: 
by  John  Ordronaux,  LL.B.,  M.D.  Philadelphia, 

1870. 

L'Ecole  de  Salerne,  traduction  en  vers  Franfais  par 
Charles  Meaux  Saint-Marc,  avec  le  texte  Latin, 
precedee  d'une  introduction  par  le  docteur  Ch. 
Daremberg  et  suivie  de  commentaires  avec  figures. 
Paris,  J.  B.  Bailliere  et  fils,  1880. 

The  Schola  Salernitana;  its  history  and  the  date  of  its 
introduction  into  the  British  Isles,  being  the  Fin- 
layson  Memorial  Lecture,  by  Norman  Moore, 
Glasgow  M.  J.,  1908,  Ixix,  241-268. 

[51  1 


2um  Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum,  by  K.  Sudhoff. 
Arch.  f.  Gesck.  d.  Med.,  Leipz.,  1914,  vii,  360; 
1915,  viii,  292,  352. 

The  illustrations  accompanying  the  text 
are  drawn  chiefly  from  the  old  editions  of 
the  "Regimen  Sanitatis  Salernitanum,"  some 
of  them  being  old  cuts  used  in  the  German 
editions  of  Curio  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
and  utilized  by  Croke  in  his  edition.  The 
headpieces  and  initial  appearing  in  the  English 
version  have  been  exactly  reproduced  from 
the  Harington  edition. 


NOTE    ON    THE    PREHISTORY 
OF  THE   REGIMEN   SANITATIS 

BY  FIELDING  H.  GARRISON,  M.D. 

IN  spite  of  frequent  assertions  to  the  con- 
trary, it  has  been  fairly  well  demon- 
strated, through  the  researches  of  Sud- 
hoff  and  Neuburger,  that  the  influence  of 
Constantinus  Africanus  upon  the  School  of 
Salerno  was  only  episodic  and  negligible,  al- 
though his  Latin  translations  from  the  Arabic 
writers  were  destined  to  play  a  unique  part  in 
the  fastening  of  Saracenic  culture  upon  the 
medicine  of  Western  Europe,  during  the  1 2th 
century  and  later.  The  Saracen  overlords  of 
Sicily,  during  their  period  of  domination  (829- 
1060),  made  frequent  incursions  into  Southern 
Italy,  and,  in  1016,  as  Leo  Ostiensis  relates,1 
forty  brave  Norman  pilgrims  saved  Salerno 
from  one  of  their  attacks.  Islam  was  therefore 

1Leo  Ostiensis  [Marsicanusl :  Chronica,  I,  II,  c.  37.  Amatus, 
Monachus  Cassinensis:  L'Ystoire  de  li  Normant  fed.  J.  J.  Champol- 
lion-Figeac],  Paris,  1835,  I,  §35.  Cited  by  G.  La  Farina,  Storia 
d'ltalia,  Firenze,  1846,  235. 

[53  1 


not  specially  popular  with  the  Salernitans. 
During  the  Norman  dominion  of  Sicily  (1060- 
90),  what  little  of  the  Arabic  culture  went 
over  to  Salerno  was  quietly  absorbed  by  peace- 
ful infiltration,  so  that  Constantine,  in  Sud- 
hoff's  phrase,  was  "  a  mere  symptom  of  a  great 
historic  process." 

It  is  also  clear  that  the  School  of  Salerno 
was  of  purely  laical  character,  a  civitas  Hippo- 
cratica  in  the  midst  of  monastic  foundations, 
and  the  reasons  for  this  are  not  far  to  seek. 
The  fact  that  Salerno  was  ruled  by  Northern 
overlords,  by  Lombard  dukes  during  the  9th 
and  loth  centuries,  and,  after  the  nth  cen- 
tury, by  Norman  princes,  Hohenstauffen  and 
Anjou  emperors,  counted  for  something.  But 
the  point  of  greatest  importance  is  that  the 
far  southern  location  of  Salerno,  its  proximity 
to  that  "Magna  Graecia"  which  formed  the 
"toe"  of  the  Italian  boot,  put  the  little  town 
in  direct  touch  with  the  last  survivals  of  a 
vanishing  Greek  culture  which  from  the  6th 
century  B.C.,  and  long  after  the  Roman  con- 
[S4l 


quest  of  Greece,  had  gone  on  untouched  and 
undisturbed,  in  spite  of  Cicero's  "  Magna 
GrcBcia  nunc  quidem  delenda  est"  and  the 
gradual  decay  of  its  towns.  Up  to  the  loth 
century,  Sicily,  Reggio,  and  Otranto  were  still 
part  of  the  Byzantine  Empire.  Greek  influ- 
ences from  Byzantium  itself  were  not  wanting 
also.  Knowledge  of  Greek  was  extremely 
widespread  all  over  Sicily  and  Northern  Italy. 
Medical  translations,  made  directly  from  the 
Greek  into  Latin,  abounded,  and,  as  Sudhoff 
has  shown,  so  numerous  were  the  towns  and 
communities  in  which  Greek  was  the  spoken 
language  that  the  Hohenstauffen  emperor, 
Frederick  II  (1198-1250),  actually  had  his 
legal  ordinances  printed  simultaneously  in 
Latin  and  Greek.1 

Thus,  Salerno  at  the  start  stood  heir  to  the 
Latinized  Greek  culture  of  Brindisi,  .Reggio, 
Sicily  and  Beneventum,  and  the  earlier  com- 
pilations of  its  School  were  in  no  wise  different 
from  the  other  compilations  of  the  6th-8th 

1  Sudhoff:   Milt.  z.  Gesch.  d.  Med.,  Leipz.,  1914,  XIII,  180-182. 

[55  1 


centuries.  At  Salerno  was  compiled  the  famous 
"Latin  Dioscorides,"  an  alphabetical  arrange- 
ment of  extracts  from  pseudo-Apuleius,  Ori- 
basius,  Gargilius,  etc.,  a  work  of  trimming  and 
interpolation,  which,  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
7th  century  "Lombard  Dioscorides"  (a  Latin 
translation  of  the  first  five  books)  is  either 
styled  "pseudo-Dioscorides"  or,  given  its 
original  spelling,  "Dyascorides"  (Sudhoff).1 
From  this  Salernitan  "Dyascorides,"  along 
with  Gargilius,  Constantinus  Africanus,  and 
the  Gothic-Lombardic  "pseudo-Pliny,"  after- 
wards published  at  Rome  in  1509,  was  com- 
piled the  famous  herb-book  of  the  nth  cen- 
tury, "Macer  Floridus."2  The  tendency  of 
the  period  was  toward  pseudo-authorship,  to 
pass  off  a  patch-work  of  choppings  and  trim- 
mings from  the  early  writers,  stitched  together 
with  many  "insertions,"  as  the  bona  fide 
treatise  of  some  famous  name  of  the  past, 
such  as  Dioscorides  or  Pliny  or  Apuleius,  in 

*  Pagel-Sudhoff :  Geschichte  der  Medizin.  ate  Aufl.,  Berl.,  1915, 
166. 

.,  163. 


order  to  make  it  more  widely  read  and  re- 
nowned. In  the  period  succeeding  the  Dark 
Ages,  in  which  timid  learning,  paralyzed  by 
the  constant  succession  of  wars  and  social  up- 
heavals, ever  pulled  its  forelock  to  authority,1 
this  device  naturally  suggested  itself.  The 
"Regimen  sanitatis,"  essentially  a  compilation 
passed  off  as  an  original  production  of  the 
Salernitan  School,  had  a  similar  origin.  In  its 
original  form,  it  was  a  short  poem  of  362 
verses,  about  which  Arnold  of  Villanova  wrote 
a  commentary,  and  which  the  zeal  of  De  Renzi 
and  his  predecessors  has  increased  to  3520 
verses.  According  to  SudhofF,  neither  Fred- 
erick II  nor  Gilles  de  Corbeil  ever  heard  of  it. 
His  later  investigations  would  make  it  seem 
probable  that  the  poem  did  not  become  gen- 
erally known  until  about  the  middle  of  the 
1 3th  century.2  The  statement  of  Haeser  that 
most  of  the  manuscripts  begin  with  the  words 

1  R.  Pepin  speaks  of  the  Middle  Ages  as  "une  6poque  ou  la  produc- 
tion originate  n'existait,  pour  ainsi  dire,  pas,  les  e'crivains  se  copiant 
mutuellement."  See  J.  Brinkmann,  Leipzig  diss.,  1914,  p.  36. 

2_Sudhoff:   Arch.f.  Gesch.  d.  Med.,  Leipz.,  1915-16,  IX,  1-9. 

[57] 


"Anglorum  regi"  must  be  accepted  with  cau- 
tion, for  Sudhoff,  who  has  devoted  his  life  to 
the  study  of  medical  manuscripts,  finds  that 
while  "Anglorum  regi"  appears  in  the  printed 
editions,  many  of  the  So-odd  MSS  known  be- 
gin with  the  dedication  "Francorum  regi."  1 
This  disposes  of  the  old  story  that  the  poem 
was  composed  for  the  benefit  of  Robert,  son 
of  William  the  Conqueror,  who,  having  sus- 
tained a  wound  in  the  arm,  stopped  at  Salerno 
for  treatment.  The.  date  of  his  visit  (noi) 
has  given  wide  currency  to  the  belief  that  the 
"Regimen  sanitatis"  goes  back  to  the  nth 
century  or  earlier.  Sudhoff  traces  its  origins 
to  a  prose  hygienic  epistle  (De  conservatione 
corporis  humani)  supposed  to  have  been  writ- 
ten by  Aristotle  for  the  benefit  of  his  pupil, 
Alexander  the  Great,  and  translated  into 
Latin,  at  the  beginning  of  the  I2th  century, 
by  a  baptized  Jew,  John  of  Toledo  (Joannes 
Hispanus).  In  1860  F.  J.  Herrgott,  a  medical 
professor  of  the  Strassburg  Faculty,  had  al- 

1  Pagel-Sudhoff,  op.  tit.,  173. 

[58] 


ready  found_some  indications  of  an  early  an- 
cestor of  the  "Regimen"  in  a  parchment  MS. 
made  by  the  nun  Guta  in  the  cloister  at  Mar- 
bach  in  H54-1  In  this,  the  arrangement  of 
certain  dietetic  precepts  by  months  and  the 
marked  resemblance  of  these  to  the  monthly 
series  in  the  "Regimen"  is  significant  and 
striking.  In  the  I2th  century,  during  the 
primacy  of  Raimund,  Archbishop  of  Toledo 
(1130-50),  Toledo  was  a  great  storehouse  of 
Arabic  MSS.,  and  its  school  of  medical  trans- 
lators, of  whom  Gerard  of  Cremona  was  the 
earliest  (1114-87),  had  no  insignificant  influ- 
ence upon  mediaeval  medicine.  Among  these, 
John  of  Toledo  Latinized  his  hygienic  Alexan- 
der-epistle from  an  Arabic  MS.,  the  Sirr-el- 
asrar,  or  "Secretum  secretorum,"  attributed 
to  Aristotle  and  alleged  to  have  been  found  in 
a  remote  temple.  This  supposititious  MS.  of 
pseudo-Aristotle,  a  compilation  from  Greek 
sources,  was  frequently  translated  in  the  Mid- 
dle Ages.  The  use  of  the  high-sounding  names 

1 F.  J.  Herrgott:   Gaz.  mid.  de  Paris,  1860,  3.3.,  XXV,  551-559- 
[  59] 


of  Aristotle  and  Alexander  was  a  mere  Arabic 
business  device,  to  give  "go"  to  the  produc- 
tion. The  temple  fiction,  like  the  story  of  the 
epistle  which  Caesar  is  said  to  have  found  in 
an  ivory  capsule  (capsula  eburned)  in  the  tomb 
of  Hippocrates,  was  also  one  of  the  stalest  bits 
of  Arabic  supercherie .l  The  Alexander-epistle 
of  pseudo-Aristotle  enjoyed  wide  popularity. 
Some  sixty-five  manuscript  versions  have  been 
found,  including  many  translations.  The  origi- 
nal translator,  John  of  Toledo,  as  with  pseudo- 
Pliny  and  pseudo-Dioscorides,  was  destined 
later  to  have  many  spurious  compilations 
foisted  off  under  his  own  name.  As  in  the 
later  "Regimen,"  John  dedicates  his  epistle 
to  royalty,  Princess  Tharasia,  daughter  of 
Alphonse  VI,  being  in  this  instance  flattered 
with  the  title  of  "Queen."  In  the  I4th  and 
1 5th  centuries,  there  was,  in  fact,  a  veritable 

1  This  tendency  of  the  Arabic  compilers  and  translators  has  been 
fairly  well  established  by  M.  Steinschneider,  the  leading  investigator 
of  Arabic  and  Hebrew  MS,  in  his  "Alfarabi"  (1869)  and  elsewhere. 
The  reaction  of  any  hidebound  intelligence  to  some  commonplace 
statement  ascribed  to  a  great  name  affords  an  amusing  illustration 
of  the  subtlety  of  this  mediaeval  device. 

[60] 


flood  of  hygienic  rules,  addressed  to  great  lords 
and  ladies,  some  for  travel  and  sea  voyages, 
some  for  army  campaigns,  some  for  the 
regime  of  pregnancy,  and  all  dealing  with 
dietetics,  the  hygiene  of  the  mouth  and  the 
teeth,  bathing,  care  of  the  hair,  sleep,  and 
other  phases  of  daily  life.  The  striking  re- 
semblance between  the  prose  epistle  of  pseudo- 
Aristotle  and  the  versified  "Regimen  sani- 
tatis"  was  first  pointed  out  by  SudhofF  l  and 
developed  at  length  by  one  of  his  pupils.2 
The  Alexander-epistle,  at  least  a  hundred  years 
older,  was,  in  all  likelihood,  the  prose  model 
of  the  poem.  Many  wise  saws  of  Salerno, 
compressed  into  verse  form  in  the  "Regimen," 
are  also  found  in  the  epistle,  and  the  fact  that 
the  latter  was  derived  from  Greek  sources  is 
evidenced  by  similar  passages  in  Oribasius. 

1  Sudhoff :  Mitt.  z.  Gesch.  d.  Med.,  Leipz.,  1914,  XIII,  308-309. 
Arch.  f.  Gesch.  d.  Med.,  Leipz.,  1913-14,  VII,  360;  1914-15,  VIII. 
377;  1915-16,  IX,  i. 

2J.  Brinkmann:  Die  apokryphen  Gesundheitsregeln  des  Aristo- 
teles  fur  Alexander  der  Grosse  in  der  Uebersetzung  des  Johann  von 
Toledo.  Leipzig  dissertation,  1914.  This  dissertation  contains  the 
facts  about  the  Alexander-epistle  given  above. 

[  61  ] 


Thus,  from  three  different  streams  of  culture, 
those  emanating  from  Magna  Graecia,  Byzan- 
tium and  Toledo,  Salerno  became  the  isolated 
outpost  of  Greek  medical  tradition  in  the 
Middle  Ages.  The  "Regimen  sanitatis,"  as 
far  as  it  goes,  confirms  the  view  of  Haeser 
that  the  Salernitan  period  was  a  "period  of 
the  domination  of  Greek  medicine,"  and  the 
opinion  of  SudhofT  that  the  Greeks  were  the 
originators  of  a  rational  system  of  personal 
hygiene,  dietetics  and  gymnastics.  But  the 
Greeks  were  blind  to  the  fact  of  contagion, 
did  not  in  the  least  understand  that  disease 
can  be  transmitted  from  person  to  person,  and 
hence  could  do  nothing  for  prophylaxis  by 
segregation  of  actual  and  suspected  cases  of 
infection  or  by  incineration  of  fomites.  This 
phase  of  public  hygiene,  as  we  know  from 
Leviticus  (XIII-XV),  was  the  actual  achieve- 
ment of  the  Hebrews.  In  the  later  Middle 
Ages,  the  principle  of  isolation  and  segregation 
proved  to  be  the  main  coefficient  in  the 
stamping  out  of  leprosy.  "Light  from  the 
[62  ] 


East/'  says  Sudhoff,  "was  transformed  into 
pulsating  energy  by  the  European  peoples, 
while,  in  the  Orient,  the  disease  swung  its  lash 
unchecked  and  unhindered."1 

Sudhoff:    Deutsche  Rev.,   Stuttg.  &  Leipz.,   1911,    IV,   46-48. 
Translation  of  Dr.  Frank  J.  Stockman. 


Villa  Nova  commenting  on  the  Schola  Salerni 


THE  SALERNE  SCHOOLE 


THE 

ENGLISHMANS 

DOCTOR. 

OR, 

The  Schoole  of  Salerno. 

OR, 
Phyficall  obferuations  forthepcrfed 

Prtferuingofthe  My  ofCtfan  in 
y~^£ontinuall  health. 


London 

Printed  for  John  Heltne ,  and  lohn 

iBusby  Junior  an  d  are  to  be  folae  at  the  little  (hop 
nextCliflfords  Inne-gate,in  Fleet- 
{lreierc.i6oS, 


THE  PRINTER  TO 

the  Reader. 

EADER,  the  care  that  I  have  of 
'thy  health,  appears  in  be f towing 
thefe  Phyficall  rules  upon  thee : 
neither  needeft  thou  bee  afhamed 
'to  take  leffons  out  of  this  Schoole: 
for  our  beft  Doctors  /come  not  to  reade  the  in- 
ftructions.  It  is  a  little  Academic,  where  every 
man  may  be  a  Graduate,  and  proceed  Doctor  in 
the  ordering  of  his  owne  bodie.  It  is  a  Garden, 
where  all  things  grow  that  are  neceffarie  for 
thy  health.  This  medicinall  Tree  grew  firft  in 
Salerne ;  from  thence  it  was  remoued,  and  hath 
borne  fruit  and  bloffomes  a  long  time  in  Eng' 
land.  It  is  now  replanted  in  a  wholefome  ground, 
and  new  earth  caft  about  it  by  the  hand  of  a 

cunning 


To  the  Reader. 

cunning  Gardiner,  to  \eepe  it  ftill  in  flourifh' 
ing.  Much  good  husbandry  is  beftowed  upon  it: 
yet  whatfoeuer  the  coft  bee,  thou  reapeft  the 
fweetneffe  of  it  for  a  fmall  value.  It  came  to  me 
by  chance,  as  a  Jewell  that  is  found,  whereof 
notwithstanding  I  am  not  couetous,  but  part  the 
Treafure  amongst  my  Countrymen.  The  Author 
of  the  paines,  is  to  me  un^nowne,  and  I  put  this 
Childe  of  his  into  the  open  world  without  his 
confent.  Bring  it  up  therefore  well,  I  befeech 
thee,  and  hope  (as  I  doe)  that  he  will  not  bee 
angry,  finding  this  a  Traueller  abroad, 
when  by  this  trauell  fo  many  of 
his  own  Countrey  are  fo 
manifoldly  ben- 
efited. 


Farewell. 

Ad 


Ad  Librum. 

GO  Booke,  and  (like  a  Merchant)  new 
arriu'd, 

Tell  in  how  ftrange  a  traffick  thou  haft  thriu'd 
Vpon  the  Countrey  which  the  Sea-god  faues, 
And  loues  fo  deare;  he  bindes  it  round  with 

waues : 

Caft  Anchor  thou,  and  impoft  pay  to  him 
Whofe  Swans  vpon  the  breft  of  I  s  i  s  fwim. 
But  to  the  people  that  doe  loue  to  buy, 
(It  skills  not  for  how  much)  each  nouelty 
Proclaime  an  open  Mart,  and  fell  good  cheape, 
What  thou  by  trauell  and  much  coft  doft 

reape, 

Bid  the  gay  Courtier,  and  coy  Lady  come, 
The  Lawyer,  Townfman,  and  the  countrie 

groome, 

Tis 


Ad  Librum. 

'Tis  ware  for  all:  yet  thus  much  let  them 

know, 

There  are  no  drugs  heere  fetcht  from  Mexico, 
Nor  gold  from  India,  nor  that  {linking  fmoake, 
Which  Englifh  gallants  buy,  themfelues  to 

choake, 

Nor  filkes  of  Turkic,  nor  of  Barbary, 
Thofe  lufcious  Canes,  where  our  rich  Sugers  lie: 
Nor  thofe  hot  drinkes  that  make  our  wits  to 

dance 

The  wilde  Canaries:  nor  thofe  Grapes  of  France, 
Which  make  vs  clip  our  Englifh  nor  thofe 

wares 

Of  fertile  Belgia,  whofe  wombe  compares 
With  all  the  world  for  fruite,  tho  now  with 

fcarres 

Her  body  be  all  ore  defac'd  by  warres : 
Go,  tell  them  what  thou  bringft  exceeds  the 

wealth 
Of  al  thefe  Countries  for  thou  bringft  them 

health. 

In 


In  Librum. 

r,  Learning,  Order,  Elegance  of  Phrafe, 
Health,  and  the  Art  to  lengthen  out  our  daies, 
Philofophie,  Phyficke,  and  Poefie, 
And  that  skill  which  death  loues  not,  (Surgery) 
Walkes  to  refrefh  vs,  Ayres  moft  fweete  and  cleare, 
A  thriftie  Table,  and  the  wholefom'ft  cheare, 
All  forts  of  graine,  all  forts  of  flefh,  of  fifh, 
Of  Fowle,  and  (laft  of  all)  of  fruits  a  feuerall  difh: 
Good  Breakefafts,  Dinners,  Suppers,  after-meales, 
The  hearbe  for  Sallads,  and  the  hearbe  that  heales, 
Phyficions  Counfell,  Pothecaries  pils, 
Without  the  fumming  vp  of  coftly  bils, 
Wines  that  the  braine  hall  ne're  intoxicate, 
Strong  Ale  and  Beere  at  a  more  eafier  rate, 
Then  Water  from  the  Fountaine:  clothes  (not  deere) 
For  the  foure  feuerall  quarters  of  the  yeere, 
Meates  both  for  Proteftant  and  Puritan, 
With  meanes  fufficient  to  maintaine  a  man. 
If  all  thefe  things  thou  want'st,  no  farther  looke, 
All  this,  and  more  than  this,  lyes  in  this  Booke. 

Anonimus. 


In  Laudem  Operis. 

rjlHE  Gods  vpon  a  time  in  counfell  fitting, 
JL       To  rule  the  world  what  creature  was  moft  fitting. 
At  length  from  God  to  God  this  fentence  ran, 
To  forme  a  creature  like  themfelues  (call'd  Man) 
Being  made,  the  world  was  giuen  him  built  fo  rarely, 
No  workman  can  come  neere  it:  hung  fo  fairely, 
That  the  Gods  viewing  it,  were  ouer-ioyed: 
Yet  grieu'd  that  it  fhould  one  day  be  deftroyed: 
Gardens  had  Man  to  walke  in,  fet  with  trees 
That  ftill  were  bearing:  But  (neglecting  thefe) 
He  longd  for  fruits  vnlawfull,  fell  to  riots, 
Wajted  his  god-like  bodie  by  ill  dyets. 
Spent  (what  was  left  him)  like  a  prodigall  heyre, 
And  had  of  earth,  of  hell,  or  heauen  no  care, 
For  which  the  earth  was  curft,  and  brought  forth  weeds, 
Poyfon  euen  lurking  in  our  faireft  feeds, 
Halfe  heauen  was  hid,  and  did  in  darkeneffe  mourne: 
Whilft  hell  kept  fires  continuall,  that  fhould  burne 
His  very  joule,  if  ftill  it  went  awry, 
And  giue  it  torments  that  fhould  neuer  die, 
Yet  loe;  How  bleft  is  man?  the  Deities, 
Built  up  the  Schoole  of  Health,  to  make  him  wife. 

The 


ll]P$EJ3a.ttrn.  /?fo>k\tp  &  *£w  &..<*%,«»**- 
C?£T  g*f*£  io  £n<fCah£  ^fn^nc  >«,tF^4»jp 

•     /n  ^      /%*-  11'  IT.  «/     "V    1h^°v    *~      i^ 


'ft 


.ft  ^ 


^-  twff*$rp&  ^kf^j"^^'. 

[4^.1>^n   o>    lyvVrnff  <xl  sffnavTnr&^ti/i*/rtt4nnt:a.ntrf 

First  page  of  a  MS  of  Harington's  Translation,  in  a  Scribe's  Hand 
but  with  Harington's  Own  Corrections. 


THE  SALERNE 
Schoole. 

THE  Salerne  Schoole  doth  by  thefe  lines 
impart 

All  health  to  Englands  King,  and  doth  aduife 
From  care  his  head  to  keepe,  from  wrath  his 

heart, 

Drinke  not  much  wine,  fup  light,  and  foone  arife, 
When  meate  is  gone,  long  fitting  breedeth 

fmart: 

And  after-noone  ftill  waking  keepe  your  eyes. 
When  mou'd  you  find  your  felfe  to 

Natures  Needs, 

Forbeare  them  not,  for  that  much  dan- 
ger breeds, 

Vfe  three  Phyficions  ftill;  firft  Doctor  Quiet, 
Next  Doctor  Merry-man,  and  Doctor  Dyet. 


[751 


RISE  earely  in  the  morne,  and  ftraight 
remember, 

With  water  cold  to  wafh  your  hands  and  eyes, 
In  gentle  fafhion  retching  euery  member, 
And  to  refrefh  your  braine  when  as  you  rife, 
In  heat,  in  cold,  in  luly  and  December. 
Both  comb  your  head,  and  rub  your 

teeth  likewife: 
If  bled  you  haue,  keep  coole,  if  bath* 

keepe  warme: 

If  din'd,  to  ftand  or  walke  will  do  no  harme 
Three  things  preferue  the  fight,  Graffe, 

Glaffe,  Stfoutains, 
At  Eue'n  fprings,  at  morning  vifit  mountains. 


[76] 


The  Medieval  Physician  in  His  Offio 


IF  R.  be  in  the  month,  their  Judgements  erre, 
That  thinke  that  fleepe  in  after-noone 

is  good: 

If  R.  be  not  therein,  fome  men  there  are 
That  thinke  a  little  nap  breeds  no  ill  bloud: 
But  if  you  mail  herein  exceed  too  farre, 
It  hurts  your  health,  it  cannot  be  with  ftood: 
Long  fleepe  at  after-noones  by  ftirring  fumes, 
Breeds  Slouth,  and  Agues,  A  king  heads 

and  Rheumes: 

The  moyfture  bred  in  Brest,  in  lawes  and  Nofe9 
Are  caljd  Catars,  or  Tyfiqu:,  or  the  Pofe. 


I77l 


The  Banquet 
Ex  magna  caena  stomacho  fit  maxima  paena 


REAT  harmes  haue  growne,  &  maladies 

exceeding, 
By  keeping  in  a  little  blaft  of  wind: 
So  Cramps  &  Dropfies,  Collickes  haue 

their  breeding, 

And  Mazed  Braines  for  want  of  vent  behind: 
Befides  we  finde  in  ftories  worth  the  reading, 
A  certaine  Romane  Emperour  was  fo  kind, 
Claudius1  by  name,  he  made  a  Proclamation, 
A  Scape  to  be  no  loffe  of  reputation. 
Great  fuppers  do  the  ftomacke  much  offend, 
Sup  light  if  quiet  you  to  fleepe  intend. 

1  Notes  for  this  and  other  indicated  passages  will  be  found  on 
page  181  and  the  pages  following. 


[79] 


f"T"V3  keepe  good  dyet,  you  fhould  neuer  feed 
-*•       Vntill  you  finde  your  ftomacke  cleane 

and  void 

Of  former  eaten  meate,  for  they  do  breed 
Repletion,  and  will  caufe  you  foone  be  cloid, 
None  other  rule  but  appetite  fhould  need, 
When  from  your  mouth  a  moyfture  cleare 

doth  void.2 
All  Peares  and  Apples,  Peaches,  Milke 

and  Cheefe, 
Salt  meates,  red  Deere,  Hare,  Beefe  and  Goat: 

all  thefe 
Are  meates  that  breed  ill  bloud,  and 

Melancholy, 
If  ficke  you  be,  to  feede  on  them  were  folly.1 


[80] 


EGGES  newly  laid,  are  nutritiue  to  eate, 
And  rofted  Reare  are  eafie  to  digeft. 
Frefh  Gafcoigne  wine  is  good  to  drinke 

with  meat, 

Broth  ftrengthens  nature  aboue  all  the  reft. 
But  broth  prepared  with  floure  of  fineft  wheat, 
Well  boild,  and  full  of  fat  for  fuch  are  beft. 
The  Priefts  rule  is  (a  Priefts  rule  fhould 

be  true) 
Thofe  Egges  are  beft,  are  long,  and  white 

and  new. 

Remember  eating  new  laid  Egges  and  foft, 
For  euery  Egge  you  eate  you  drinke  as  oft. 


81  1 


FINE  Manchet*  feeds  too  fat,  Milke  fils  the 
veines, 

New  cheefe  doth  nourifh,  fo  doth  flefh  of  Swine: 
The  Dowcets5  of  fome  beafts,  the  marrow, 

braines, 

And  all  fweet  tafting  flefh,  and  pleafant  wine, 
Soft  Egges  (a  cleanely  difh  in  houfe  of  Swaines) 
Ripe  Figs  and  Rayfins,  late  come  from 

the  Vine:  [yeere> 

Chufe  wine  you  meane  fhall  ferue  you  all  the 
Well-fauor'd  tafting  well,  and  coloured  cleere. 
Fiue  qualities  there  are,  wines  praife 

aduancing,  [dancing. 

Strong,    Beautifull,   and  Fragrant,   coole   and 


82] 


The  Public  Bath. 


WHITE  Muskadell,  and  Candie  wine,  and 
Greeke, 

Do  make  men's  wits  and  bodies  groffe  and  fat; 
Red  wine  doth  make  the  voyce  oft-time 

to  feeke, 

And  hath  a  binding  qualitie  to  that; 
Canarie,  and  Madera,  both  are  like 
To  make  one  leane  indeed :  (but  wot  you  what) 
Who  fay  they  make  one  leane,  would 

make  one  laffe 
They  meane,  they  make  one  leane  vpon 

a  ftaffe. 

Wine,  women,  Baths,  by  Art  or  Nature  warme, 
Vs'd  or  abus'd  do  men  much  good  or  harme. 


[84] 


The  Public  Bath. 


SIXE  things,  that  here  in  order  fhall  enfue, 
Againft  all  poyfons  haue  a  fecret  power, 
Peare,  Garlicke,  Reddifh-roots,  Nuts,  Rape, 

and  Rue, 

But  Garlicke  chief e;  for  they  that  it  deuoure, 
May  drinke,  &  care  not  who  their  drinke 

do  brew: 

May  walke  in  aires  infected  euery  houre. 
Sith  Garlicke  then  hath  powers  to  faue 

from  death, 

Beare  with  it  though  it  make  vnfauory  breath: 
And  fcorne  not  Garlicke,  like  to  fome 

that  thinke  [ftinke> 

It  onely  makes  men  winke,  and  drinke,  and 


[86] 


THOUGH  all  ill  fauours  do  not  breed 
infection, 

Yet  fure  infection  commeth  moft  by  fmelling, 
Who  fmelleth  ftill  perfumed,  his  complexion 
Is  not  perfum'd  by  Poet  Martials  telling, 
Yet  for  your  lodging  roomes  giue  this  direction, 
In  houfes  where  you  mind  to  make 

your  dwelling, 

That  neere  the  fame  there  be  no  euill  fents 
Of  puddle-waters,  or  of  excrements, 
Let  aire  be  cleere  and  light,  and  free 

from  faults, 
That  come  of  fecret  paffages  and  vaults. 


87] 


IF  wine  haue  ouer  night  a  furfet  brought, 
A  thing  we  wifh  to  you  fhould  happen 

feeld: 

Then  early  in  the  morning  drinke  a  draught, 
And  that  a  kind  of  remedie  fhall  yeeld, 
But  gainft  all  furfets,  vertues  fchoole  hath 

taught 

To  make  the  gift  of  temperance  a  ihield: 
The  better  wines  do  breed  the  better  humors, 
The  worfe,  are  caufes  of  vnwholefome  tumors. 
In  meafure  drinke,  let  wine  be  ripe,  not  thicke, 
But  cleere  and  well  alaid,  and  frelh  and  quicke. 


[881 


Si   tibi    serotina    noceat    potatio   vim 
H»ra  matutina  rebibas  et  erit  medicina 


THE  like  aduice  we  giue  you  for  your 
Beere, 

We  will  it  be  not  fowre,  and  yet  be  ftale: 
Well  boild,  of  harty  graine  and  old  and  cleare, 
Nor  drinke  too  much  nor  let  it  be  too  ftale: 
And  as  there  be  foure  feafons  in  the  yeere, 
In  each  a  feuerall  order  keepe  you  lhall. 
In  Spring  your  dinner  muft  not  much  exceed, 
In  Summers  heate  but  little  meate  mail  need: 
In  Autumne  ware  you  eate  not  too  much  f ruite : 
With  Winters  cold  full  meates  do  fitteft  fuite. 


[90] 


IF  in  your  drinke  you  mingle  Rew  with  Sage, 
All  poyfon  is  expeld  by  power  of  thofe, 
And  if  you  would  withall  Lufts  heat  affwage, 
Adde  to  them  two  the  gentle  flowre  of  Rofe: 
Would  not  be  fea-ficke  when  feas  do  rage, 
Sage-water  drinke  with  wine  before  he  goes. 
Sal^  Garlicke,  Par  fly,  Pepper,  Sage,  and  Wine, 
Make  fawces  for  all  meates  both  courfe 

and  fine. 

Of  warning  of  your  hands  much  good  doth  rife, 
Tis  wholefome,  cleanely,  and  relieues 
your  eyes. 


[91  1 


EATE  not  your  bread  too  ftale,  nor  eate  it 
,  hot, 

A  little  Leuend,  hollow  bak't  and  light: 
Not  frefh  of  pureft  graine  that  can  be  got, 
The  cruft  breeds  choller  both  of  browne 

&  white, 

Yet  let  it  be  well  bak't  or  eate  it  not, 
How  e're  your  tafte  therein  may  take  delight. 
Porke  without  wine  is  not  fo  good  to  eate,1 
As  Sheepe  with  wine,  it  medicine  is  and  meate, 
Tho  Intrailes  of  a  beaft  be  not  the  belt, 
Yet  are  fome  intrailes  better  than  the  reft. 


[92] 


SOME  loue  to  drinke  new  wine  not  fully  fin'd, 
But  for  your  health  we  wifh  that  you 

drinke  none, 

For  fuch  to  dangerous  fluxes  are  inclined, 
Befides,  the  Lees  of  wine  doe  breed  the  ftone, 
Some  to  drinke  onely  water  are  affign'd, 
But  fuch  by  our  confent  fhall  drinke  alone. 
For  water  and  fmall  beerewe  make  no  queftion, 
Are  enemies  to  health  and  good  digeftion : 
And  Horace  in  a  verfe  of  his  rehearfes, 
That  Water-drinkers  neuer  make  good  verfes. 


[93  1 


E  choyfe  of  meate  to  health  doth  much 

auaile»  [bloud 

Firft  Veale  is  wholefom  meat,  &  breeds  good 

So  Capon,  Hen,  and  Chicken,  Partridge,  Quaile, 
The  Phefant,  Woodcock,  Larke,  &  Thrum , 

be  good,  [railej 

The  Heath-co^ke  wholefome  is,  the  doue,  the 
And  all  that  doe  not  much  delight  in  mud. 
Faire  fwans  fuch  loue  your  beauties  make 

me  beare  you, 

That  in  the  dim  I  eafily  could  forbeare  you. 
Good  fport  it  is  to  fee  a  Mallard  kil'd, 
But  with  their  flefh,  your  flefh  mould  not  be 

fil'd. 


[941 


S  choyce  you  make  of  Fowle,  fo  make  of 

Filh, 

If  fo  that  kinde  be  foft,  the  great  be  beft, 
If  firme,  then  fmall,  and  many  in  a  dim: 
I  need  not  name,  all  kinds  are  in  requeft. 
Pike,  Trozut,  and  Pearch,  from  water 

frefh  I  wifh, 
From  Sea,  Bace,  Mullet,  Brean,  and  Souls 

are  beft: 

The  Pyke  a  rauening  tyrant  is  in  water, 
Yet  he  on  land  yeelds  good  fifh  ne're  the  later, 
If  Eeles  and  Cheefe  you  eate,  they  make 

you  hoarfe, 
But  drinke  apace  thereto,  and  then  no  force. 


[95 


SOME  loue  at  meals  to  drink  fmal  draughts 
and  oft, 

But  fancie  may  herein  and  cuftome  guide, 
If  Egges  you  eate,  they  muft  be  new  and  foft. 
In  Peafe  good  qualities  and  bad  are  tryed, 
To  take  them  with  the  skinne  that 

growes  aloft, 

They  windie  be,  but  good  without  their  hide. 
In    great    confumptions    learn'd    Phyficions 

thinke, 

'Tis  good  a  Goat  or  Camels  milke  to  drinke, 
Cowes-milke  and  Sheepes  doe  well,  but  yet 

an  Affes 
Is  be  ft  of  all,  and  all  the  other  paffes. 


[96] 


.  JlfllLKE  is  for  Agues  and  for  Head-ach 
•*•  '**•     naught, 

Yet  if  from  Agues  fit  you  feele  you  free, 
Sweete-butter  wholefome  is,  as  fome 

haue  taught,  ^ 

To  cleanfe  and  purge  fome  paines  that  inward 
JVhay,  though  it  be  contemn'd,  yet 

it  is  thought 

To  fcoure  and  cleanfe,  and  purge  in  due  degree: 
For  healthie  men  may  Cheeje  be  wholefome 

food, 

But  for  the  weake  and  fickly  'tis  not  good, 
Cheeje  is  an  heauie  meate,  both  groffe  and  cold 
And  breedeth  Coftineffe  both  new  and  old. 


[971 


/CHEESE  makes  complaint  that  men  on 
V^4     wrong  fufpitions 
Do  flander  it,  and  fay  it  doth  fuch  harme, 
That  they  conceale  his  many  good  conditions, 
How  oft  it  helpes  a  ftomack  cold  to  warme, 
How  fafting  'tis  prefcrib'd  by  fome  Phyficions, 
To  thofe  to  whom  the  flux  doth  giue  alarme: 
We  fee  the  better  fort  thereof  doth  eate, 
To  make  as  'twere  a  period  of  their  meate^ 
The  poorer  fort,  when  other  meate  is  fcant, 
For  hunger  eate  it  to  releeue  their  want. 


[98] 


Arnold  of  Villa  Nova. 


ALTHOUGH  you  may  drinke  often  while 
•I  *•     you  dine, 

Yet  after  dinner  touch  not  once  tne  cup, 
I  know  that  fome  Phyficions  doe  affigne 
To  take  fome  liquor  ftraight  before  they  fup: 
But  whether  this  be  meant  by  broth  or  wine, 
A  controuerfie  'tis  not  yet  tane  vp: 
To  clofe  your  ftomack  well,  this  order  futes, 
Cheefe  after  flefh,  Nuts  after  fifh  or  fruits, 
Yet  fome  haue  faid,  (beleeue  them  as  you  will) 
One  Nut  doth  good,  two  hurt,  the  third 
doth  kill. 


99 


SOME  Nut  'gainft  poyfon  is  preferuatiue: 
Peares  wanting  wine,  are  poyfon  from  the 

tree, 

But  bak't  Peares  counted  are  reftoratiue, 
Raw  Peares  a  poyfon,  bak't  a  medicine  be 
Bak't  Peares  a  weake  dead  ftomack  doe  reuiue, 
Raw  Peares  are  heauie  to  digeft  we  fee, 
Drinke  after  Peares,  take  after  Apples  order 
To  haue  a  place  to  purge  your  felfe  of  ordure. 
Ripe  Cherries  breed  good  bloud,  and  help 

the  ftone, 
If  Cherry  you  doe  eate  and  Cherry- ftone . 


[ioo  ] 


COOLE  Damfens  are,  and  good  for  health, 
by  reafon 

They  make  your  intrailes  foluble  and  flacke, 
Let  Peaches  fteepe  in  wine  of  neweft  feafon, 
Nuts  hurt  the  teeth,  that  with  their  teeth  they 

crack, 

With  euery  Nut  'tis  good  to  eate  a  Raifon. 
For  though  they  hurt  the  fpleen,  they  help 

the  back,  [telHng> 

A  plaifter  made  of  Figges,  by  fome  mens 
Is  good  againft  all  kernels,  boyles  and  fwelling, 
With  Poppy  ioyn'd,  it  drawes  out  bones 

are  broken, 
By  Figges  are  lice  ingendred,  Luft  prouoken. 


[101] 


EATE  Medlers,7  if  you  haue  a  loofeneffe 
gotten, 

They  bind,  and  yet  your  vrine  they  augment, 
They  haue  one  name  more  fit  to  be  forgotten, 
While  hard  and  found  they  be,  they  be 

not  fpent, 

Good  Medlers  are  not  ripe,  till  feeming  rotten, 
For  medling  much  with  Medlers  fome  are  Ihent. 
New  Renifh-wine  ftirres  vrine,  doth  not  binde: 
But  rather  loofe  the  Belly  breeding  winde, 
Ale  humors  breeds,  it  addes  both  flelh 

and  force; 
Tis  loofing,  coole,  and  vrin  doth  enforce. 


SHARPE  vineger8  doth  coole,  withall  it  dries, 
And  glues  to  fome  ill  humor  good 

correction : 

It  makes  one  melancholy,  hurts  their  eyes, 
Not  making  fat,nor  mending  their  complexion: 
It  leffens  fperme,  makes  appetite  to  rife, 
Both  tafte  and  fcent  is  good  againft  infection. 
The    Turnep    hurts    the    ftomack,   winde   it 

breedeth, 
Stirres  vrine,  hurts  his  teeth  thereon 

that  feedeth, 
Who  much  thereof  will  feed,  may  wifh  our 

Nation 
Would  well  allow  of  Claudius  proclamation. 


[103] 


IT  followes  now  what  part  of  euery  beaft 
Is  good  to  eate:  firft  know  the  Heart  is  ill, 
It  is  both  hard  and  heauy  to  digeft. 
The  Tripe  with  no  good  iuyce  our  flefh  doth 

fill: 

The  Lites9  are  light,  yet  but  in  fmall  requeft: 
But  outer  parts  are  beft  in  Phyficks  skill 
If  any  braines  be  good,  (which  is  a  queftion) 
Hens  braine  is  beft  and  lighteft  of  digeftion: 
In  Fennel-feed,  this  vertue  you  ihall  finde, 
Foorth  of  your  lower  parts  to  driue  the  winde. 


[104] 


OF  Fennell10  vertues  foure  they  doe  recite, 
Firft,  it  hath  power  fome  poyfons  to 

expell, 

Next,  burning  Agues  it  will  put  to  flight, 
The  ftomack  it  doth  cleanfe,  and  comfort  well : 
And  fourthly,  it  doth  keepe  and  cleanfe  the 

fight, 

And  thus  the  feed  and  hearbe  doth  both  excell. 
Yet  for  the  two  la  ft  told,  if  any  feed 
With  Fennell  may  compare,  'tis  Annis-feed: 
Some  Annis-feed  be  fweete,  and  fome  more 

bitter, 
For  pleafure  thefe,  for  medicine  thofe  are  fitter. 


[105] 


DAME  Natures  reafon,  far  furmounts  our 
reading, 

We  feele  effects  the  caufes  oft  vnknowne, 
Who  knows  the  caufe  why  Spodium  ftancheth 

bleeding? 

(Spodium11  but  afhes  of  an  Oxes  bone) 
We  learne  herein  to  praife  his  power  exceeding, 
That  vertue  gaue  to  wood,  to  hearbs,  to  ftone; 
The  Liuer,  Spodium;  Mace,  the  heart 

delights,  [Lites. 

The  braine  likes   Muske,   and   Lycoras1*  the 
The  Spleene  is  thought  much  coforted 

with  Capers™ 
In  ftomack,  Gallingale^  alwaies  ill  vapors. 


[106] 


SAUCE  would  be  fet  with  meate  vpon  the 
table, 

Salt  is  good  fauce,  and  had  with  great  facilitie: 
Salt  makes  vnfauourie  vyands  manducable, 
To  driue  fome  poyfons  out,  Salt  hath  abilitie, 
Yet  things  too  fait  are  ne're  commendable: 
They  hurt  the  fight,  in  nature  caufe  debilitie, 
The  fcab  and  itch  on  them  are  euer  breeding, 
The  which  on  meates  too  fait  are  often 

feeding:15 

Salt  mould  be  firft  remou'd,  and  firft  fet  downe 
At  table  of  the  Knight,  and  of  the  Clowne. 


[107] 


A>  taftes  are  diuers,  fo  Phyficions  hold 
They  haue  as  fundry  qualities  and 

powre, 

Some  burning  are,  fome  temperate,  fome  cold, 
Cold  are  thefe  three,  the  Tart,  the  Sharpe, 

the  fozvre, 

Salt,  bitter,  byting,  burne  as  hath  beene  told, 
Sweet,   fat   and   frefh,    are   temperate   euery 

houre. 

Foure  fpeciall  vertues  hath  a  fop  in  wine, 
It  maketh  the  teeth  white,  it  cleares  the  eyne, 
It  addes  vnto  an  emptie  ftomack  fulneffe, 
And  from  a  ftomack  fill'd,  it  takes  the  dulneffe. 


[108] 


IF  to  an  vfe  you  haue  your  felfe  betaken, 
Of  any  dyet,  make  no  fudden  change, 
A  cuftome  is  not  eafily  forfaken, 
Yea  though  it  better  were,  yet  feemes 

it  ftrange, 

Long  vfe  is  as  a  fecond  nature  taken, 
With  nature  cuftome  walkes  in  equall  range. 
Good  dyet  is  a  perfect  way  of  curing: 
And  worthy  much  regard  and  health  affuring. 
A  King  that  cannot  rule  him  in  his  dyet, 
Will  hardly  rule  his  Realme  in  peace  and  quiet. 


[109] 


THEY  that  in  Phyfick  will  prefcribe  you 
food, 

Six  things  muft  note  we  heere  in  order  touch, 
Firft  what  it  is,  and  then  for  what  'tis  good, 
And  when  and  where,  how  often,  and  how  much: 
Who  note  not  this,  it  cannot  be  with-ftood, 
They  hurt,  not  heale,  yet  are  too  many  fuch. 
Coleworls16   broth   doth   loofe,   the   fubftance 

bind, 

Thus  play  they  fa  ft  and  loofe,  and  all  behind: 
But  yet  if  at  one  time  you  take  them  both, 
The  fubftance  (hall  giue  place  vnto  the  broth. 


[no] 


IN  Phyficke  Mallowes11  haue  much  reputa- 
tion, 

The  very  name  of  Mallow  feemes  to  found, 
The  roote  thereof  will  giue  a  kind  purgation, 
By  them  both  men  and  women  good 

haue  found, 

To  womens  monthly  flowers  they  giue  laxation, 
They  make  men  foluble  that  haue  beene  bound. 
And  left  wee  feeme  in  Mallowes  prayfes 

Partiall>  [Martiall. 

Long  fince  hath  Horace  praifed  them,   and 

The  worms  that  gnaw  the  wombe   &  neuer 

ftint>  [Mint.1* 

Are  kil'd,  and  purg'd,  and  driuen  away  with 


[in] 


BUT  who  can  write  thy  worth  (O  foueraigne 
Sagel).19 
Some  aske  how  man  can  die,  where  thou 

doft  grow, 

Oh  that  there  were  a  medicine  curing  age, 
Death  comes  at  laft,  though  death  comes  ne're 

fo  flow:  [fwage, 

Sage  ftrengths  the  finewes,  feuers  heat  doth 

The  Palfy  helpes,  and  rids  of  mickle  woe. 
In  Lattin  (Saluia)  takes  the  name  of  fafety, 
In  Englifh  (Sage)  is  rather  wife  then  crafty. 
Sith  then  the  name  betokens  wife  and  fauing, 
We  count  it  natures  friend  and  worth 
the  hauing. 


[112] 


TAKE  Sage  and  Primrofe,  Lauender  and 
Creffes, 
With  Walwort  that  doth  grow  twixt  lime 

and  ftone, 

For  he  that  of  thefe  hearbes  the  iuyce  expreffes, 
And  mix  with  powder  of  a  Caftor-ftone, 
May    breed    their    eafe    whom    palfy    much 

oppreffes, 

Or  if  this  breed  not  helpe,  then  looke  for  none. 
Rezv  is  a  noble  hearbe  to  giue  it  right, 
To  chew  it  fafting,  it  will  purge  the  fight. 
One  quality  thereof  yet  blame  I  muft, 
It  makes  men  chafte,  and  women  fils  with  luft. 


FAIRS  Ladies,  if  thefe  Phyficke  rules  be 
true, 
That  Rew™  hath  fuch  ftrange  qualities 

as  thefe, 

Eate   little   Rew,   left   your   good   husbands 
(REW)  [difeafe) 

And    breed    betweene   you    both    a    fhrew'd 
Rew  whets  the  wit,  and  more  to  pleafure  you, 
In  water  boyld,  it  rids  the  roome  of  fleas. 
I  would  not  to  you  Ladies,  Onyons  praife, 
Saue  that  they  make  one  faire  (jEfclapius  faies) 
Yet  taking  them  requires  fome  good  direction, 
They  are  not  good  alike  for  each  complexion. 


IF  vnto  Choller  men  be  much  inclin'd, 
'Tis  thought  that  Onyons  are  not  good 

for  thofe, 

But  if  a  man  be  flegmatique  (by  kind) 
It  does  his  ftomack  good,  as  fome  suppofe: 
For  Oyntment  iuyce  of  Onyons  is  affign'd, 
To  heads  whofe  haire  fals  fafter  than  it  growes: 
If  Onyons  cannot  helpe  in  fuch  mimap, 
A  man  muft  get  him  a  Gregorian  cap. 
And  if  your  hound  by  hap  mould  bite 

his  mafter, 
With  Hony,  Rezv,  and  Onyons  make  a  plafter.21 


I  "Si 


THE  feed  of  Muftard  is  the  fmalleft  graine, 
And  yet  the  force  thereof  is  very  great, 
It  hath  a  prefent  power  to  purge  the  braine, 
It  adds  vnto  the  ftomack  force  and  heat: 
All  poifon  it  expels,  and  it  is  plaine, 
With  fuger  'tis  a  paffing  fauce  for  meate. 
She  that  hath  hap  a  husband  bad  to  bury, 
And  is  therefore  in  heart  not  fad,  but  merry, 
Yet  if  in  fhew  good  manners  fhee  will  keepe, 
Onyons    and    Muftard-feed22    will    make    her 
weepe. 


[116] 


THOUGH  Violets*  fmell  fweete,  Nettles 
offenfiue, 

Yet  each  in  feuerall  kind  much  good  procures, 
The  firft  doth  purge  the  heauy  head 

and  penfiue, 

Recouers  furfets,  falling  fickeneffe  cures: 
Tho  Nettles™  ftinke,  yet  make  they 

recompence, 

If  your  belly  by  the  Collicke  paine  endures, 
Againft  the  Collicke  Nettle-feed  and  hony 
Is  Phyfick:  better  none  is  had  for  money. 
It  breedeth  fleepe,  ftaies  vomits,  fleams 

doth  foften, 
It  helpes  him  of  the  Gowte  that  eates  it  often. 


CLEANE   Hyfop™  is  an  hearbe  to  purge 
and  clenfe 
Raw  flegmes,  and  hurtfull  humors  from  the 

breft, 

The  fame  vnto  the  lungs  great  comfort  lends, 
With  hony  boyl'd :  but  f arre  aboue  the  reft, 
It  giues  good  colour,  and  complexion  mends, 
And  is  therefore  with  women  in  requeft: 
With  Hony  mixt,  Cinquefoyle™  cures 

the  Canker, 

That  eates  out  inward  parts  with  cruell  ranker. 
But  mixt  with  wine,  it  helpes  a  grieued  fide, 
And  ftaies  the  vomit,  and  the  laske  befide. 


I  "81 


TJ^LLECOMPANE27  ftrengthens  each 

•*— '     inward  part, 

A  little  loofeneffe  is  thereby  prouoken, 

It  fwageth  griefe  of  minde,  it  cheeres  the  heart, 

Allaieth  wrath,  and  makes  a  man  faire  fpoken: 

And  drunke  with  Rew  in  wine,  it  doth  impart 

Great  help  to  thofe  that  haue  their  bellies 

broken, 

Let  them  that  vnto  choller  much  incline, 
Drinke  Penny-royall  fteeped  in  their  wine. 
And  fome  affirm  that  they  haue  found 

by  tryall, 
The  paine  of  Gowt  is  cur'd  by  Penny-royall?* 


TO  tell  of  Creffeszg  vertues  long  it  were, 
But  diuers  patients  vnto  that  are 

debter: 

It  helpes  the  teeth,  it  giues  to  bald  men  haire, 
With  Hony  mixt,  it  Ring-worms  kils  and 

Tetter: 

But  let  not  women  that  would  children  beare 
Feed  much  thereof,  for  they  to  faft  were  better. 
An  hearbe  there  is  takes  of  the  Swallowes 

name, 

And  by  the  Swallowes  gets  no  little  fame, 
For   Pliny   writes    (tho   fome   thereof   make 

doubt) 
It  helpes  young  Swallowes  eyes  when  they 

are  out. 


120] 


GREENE  Willow™  though  in  fcorne  it  oft 
is  vf'd, 

Yet  fome  are  there  in  it  not  fcornefull  parts, 
It  killeth  wormes,  the  iuice  in  eares  infuf'd, 
With  Vineger:  the  barke  deftroyeth  warts* 
But  at  one  quality  I  much  haue  muf'd, 
That  addes  and  bates  much  of  his  good 

deferts. 

For  writers  old  and  new,  both  ours  and  forren, 
Affirme  the  feed  make  women  chaft 

and  barren. 

Take  Saffron  if  your  heat  make  glad  you  will, 
But  not  too  much  for  that  the  heart  may  kill.31 


[121] 


Leebes**  are  good,  as  fome 
Phyficians  fay, 
Yet  would  I  choofe  how  er'e  I  them  beleeue, 
To  weare  Leekes  rather  on  Saint  Dauids  day,^ 
Then  eate  the  Leeke  vpon  Saint  Dauids  Eue, 
The  bleeding  at  the  nofe  Leekes  iuice  will  ftay, 
And  women  bearing  children  much  releeue. 
Blacke  Pepper**  beaten  groffe  you  good  mail 

finde, 

If  cold  your  ftomacke  be,  or  full  of  winder 
White  Pepper  helps  the  cough,  and  fleame  it 

riddeth 
And  Agues  fit  to  come  it  oft  forbiddeth. 


[122] 


OUR  hearing  is  a  choyce  and  dainty  fenfe, 
And  hard  to  men,  yet  foone  it  may  be 

mard, 
Thefe  are  the  things  that  breed  it  moil 

offence, 

To  fleepe  on  ftomacke  full  and  drinking  hard, 
Blowes,  fals,  and  noyfe,  and  fafting  violence, 
Great  heate  and  fodaine  cooling  afterwards; 
All  thefe,  as  is  by  fundry  proofes  appearing, 
Breed  tingling  in  our  eares,   and  hurt  our 

hearing^ 

Then  thinke  it  good  aduice,  not  idle  talke, 
That  after  Supper  bids  vs  ftand  or  walke. 


I  I23] 


YOU  heard  before  what  is  for  hearing 
naught, 

Now  fhall  you  fee  what  hurtfull  is  for  fight: 
Wine,    women,    Bathes,    by    art    to    nature 

wrought, 
Leekes,    Onyons,   Garlicke,   Muftard-jeed,  fire 

and  light^  [brought, 

Smoake,    bruifes,    dufi,    Pepper    to    powder 
Beanes,  Lentiles,  ftrains,  Wind,  Tears, 

&  Phabus  bright, 

And  all  fharpe  things  our  eye-fight  do  moleft: 
Yet  watching  hurts  them  more  then  all  the  reft. 
Of  Fennells,  Veruin,  Kellidon,  Rofes,  Rew^ 
Is  water  made,  that  will  the  fight  renew. 


[124] 


IF  in  your  teeth  you  hap  to  be  tormented, 
By  meane  fome  little  wormes  therein  do 

breed: 
Which  paine  (if  heed  be  tane)  may  be 

preuented, 

By  keeping  cleane  your  teeth  when  as  you  feed, 
Burne  Frankincenfe  (a  gum  not  euill  fented) 
Put  Henbane  vnto  this,  and  Onyon  feed, 
And  in  a  Tunnel  to  the  Tooth  that's  hollow, 
Conuey  the  fmoake  thereof,  and  eafe 

mall  follow.35 

By  Nuts,  Oyle,  Eeles,  and  cold  in  head, 
By  Apples  and  raw  fruits  is  hoarfeneffe  bred. 


^T^O  fliew  you  how  to  fhun  raw  running 

Rheumes,  [fleepe> 

Exceed  not  much  in  meate,  in  drinke,  and 
For  all  exceffe  is  caufe  of  hurtfull  fumes, 
Eate  warme  broth  warme,  ftriue  in  your 

breath  to  keep, 

Vfe  exercife  that  vapours  ill  confumes: 
In  Northern  winds  abroad  do  neuer  peepe 
If  Fiftula  do  rife  in  any  part, 
And  fo  procure  your  danger  and  your  fmart, 
Take  Arfenicke,  Brimftone,  mixt  with  Lime. 

and  S°P*'  [hope. 

And  make  a  tent36,  and  then  of  cure  there's 


[126] 


IF  fo  your  head  doe  paine  you  oft  with  aking, 
Faire  water  or  fmall  beere  drinke  then  or 

neuer, 

So  may  you  fcape  the  burning  fits  and  fhaking 
That  wonted  are  to  company  the  Feuer. 
If  with  much  heate  your  head  be  ill  in  aking, 
To  rub  your  head  and  temples  ftill  perfeuer, 
And  make  a  bath  of  Morrell  (boyled  warme) 
And  it  mail  keepe  your  head  from  further 

harme. 

A  Flix  dangerous  euill  is,  and  common,37 
In  it  fhun  cold,  much  drinke,  and  ftraine 
of  women. 


[127] 


fT^O  faft  in  Summer  doth  the  body  dry, 

•*•       Yet  doth  it  good,  if  thereto  you  enure  it, 
Againft  a  furfet  vomiting  to  try, 
Is  remedy  but  fome  cannot  endure  it. 
Yet  fome  fo  much  themfelues  found  helpe 

thereby, 

They  go  to  fea  a  purpofe  to  procure  it. 
Foure  feafons  of  the  yeare  there  are  in  all, 
The  Summer  and  the  Winter,  Spring  and  Fall: 
In  euery  one  of  thefe,  the  rule  of  reafon 
Bids  keepe  good  diet,  fuiting  euery  feafon. 


[128] 


The  Four  Seasons. 


THE  fpring  is  moift,  of  temper  good  and 
warme, 

Then  beft  it  is  to  bathe,  to  fweate,  and  purge, 
Then  may  one  ope  a  veine  in  either  arme, 
If  boyling  bloud  or  feare  of  agues  vrge: 
Then  Venus  recreation  doth  no  harme, 
Yet  may  too  much  thereof  turne  to  a  fcourge. 
In  Summers  heat  (when  choller  hath 
dominion) 

Coole   meates   and   moift   are   beft   in   fome 
opinion : 

The  Fall  is  like  the  Spring,  but  endeth  colder, 
With  Wines  and  Spice  the  Winter  may  be 
bolder. 


[130] 


The  Four  Temperaments. 

(Daremberg.} 


NOW  if  perhaps  fome  haue  defire  to  know, 
The  number  of  our  bones,  our  teeth, 

our  veines, 

This  verfe  enfuing  plainly  doth  it  fhew, 
To  him  that  doth  obferue,  it  taketh  paines: 
The  teeth  thrife  ten,  and  two,  twife  eight  arow. 
Eleu'nfcore  bones  faue  one  in  vs  remaines: 
For  veines,  that  all  may  vaine  in  vs  appeare, 
A  veine  we  haue  for  each  day  in  the  yeare: 
All  thefe  are  like  in  number  and  connexion. 
The  difference  growes  in  bigneffe  and 

complexion.38 


[131] 


FURE  humors  raigne  within  our  bodies 
wholly, 

And  thefe  compared  to  foure  Elements, 
The  Sanguine,  Choller,  Flegme,  and  Melancholy, 
The  latter  two  are  heauie,  dull  of  fence, 
Th'  other  two  are  more  louiall,  quicke  and 

lolly, 

And  may  be  likened  thus  without  offence, 
Like  ayre  both  warme  and  moift,  is  Sanguine 

cleare, 

Like  fire  doth  Choler  hot  and  drie  appeare. 
Like  water  cold  and  moift  is  Flegmatique, 
The  Melancholy  cold,  drie  earth  is  like. 


Quatuor  humores  in  humano  corpore  constant, 
Sanguis  cum  cholera  phlegma,  melancholia, 


COMPLEXIONS  cannot  vertue  breed 
or  vice, 

Yet  may  they  vnto  both  glue  inclination, 
The  Sanguine  game-fome  is,  and  nothing  nice, 
Loue  Wine,  and  Women,  and  all  recreation, 
Likes  pleafant  tales,  and  news,  playes,  cards 

&  dice, 

Fit  for  all  company,  and  euery  fafhion: 
Though  bold,  not  apt  to  take  offence, 

not  irefull,  [fuj1: 

But  bountifull,  and  kinde,  and  looking  cheere- 
Inclining  to  be  fat,  and  prone  to  laughter, 
Loues  mirth,  &  Mufick,  cares  not  what 

comes  after. 


[i34l 


The  Sanguine  Man. 
Hos  Venus  et  Bacchus  delectant  fercula,  risus. 


QHARPE  Choller  is  an  humour  moft 

^     pernitious, 

All  violent,  and  fierce,  and  full  of  fire, 

Of  quicke  conceit,  and  therewithall  ambitious, 

Their  thoughts  to  greater  fortunes  ftill 

afpire, 

Proud,  bountifull  ynough,  yet  oft  malicious 
A  right  bold  fpeaker,  and  as  bold  a  lyar, 
On  little  caufe  to  anger  great  enclin'd, 
Much  eating  ftill,  yet  euer  looking  pin'd: 
In  yonger  yeares  they  vfe  to  grow  apace, 
In  Elder  hairie  on  their  breft  and  face. 


[136] 


The  Choleric  Man. 
Est  humor  Cholera  qui  competit  impetuosis. 


THE  Flegmatique  are  moft  of  no  great 
growth, 

Inclining  to  be  rather  fat  and  fquare: 
Giuen  much  vnto  their  eafe,  to  reft  and  floth, 
Content  in  knowledge  to  take  little  fhare, 
To  put  themfelues  to  any  paine  moft  loth. 
So  dead  their  fpirits,  fo  dull  their  fences  are: 
Still  either  fitting,  like  to  folke  that 

dreame, 

Or  elfe  ftill  fpitting,  to  auoid  the  flegme: 
One  qualitie  doth  yet  thefe  harmes  repaire, 
That  for  the  moft  part  Flegmatique  are  faire. 


[138] 


The  Phlegmatic  Man. 
Otia  non  studio  tradunt,  sed  corpora  somno. 


THE  Melancholly  from  the  reft  doe  vane, 
Both  fport  and  eafe,  and  company 

refufing, 

Exceeding  ftudious,  euer  folitary, 
Inclining  penfiue  ftill  to  be,  and  mufing, 
A  fecret  hate  to  others  apt  to  carry: 
Mo  ft  conftant  in  his  choife,  tho  long  a  chufing, 
Extreme  in  loue  fometime,  yet  feldom 

luftfull, 

Sufpitious  in  his  nature,  and  miftruftfull, 
A  wary  wit,  a  hand  much  giuen  to  (paring, 
A  heauy  looke,  a  fpirit  little  daring. 


[140] 


The  Melancholy  Man. 

Restat  adhuc  tristis  Cholerae  substantia  nigra 
Qua?  reddit  pravos  pertristes,  pauca  loquentes. 


NOW  though  we  giue  thefe  humors  feuerall 
names; 

Yet  all  men  are  of  all  participant, 
But  all  haue  not  in  quantitie  the  fame, 
For  fome  (in  fome)  are  more  predominant, 
The  colour  fhewes  from  whence  it  lightly  came, 
Or  whether  they  haue  bloud  too  much  or  want. 
The  watrie  Flegmatique  are  faire  and  white, 
The  Sanguine  Rofes  ioyn'd  to  Lillies  bright, 
The  Chollerick  more  red;  the  Melancholly, 
Alluding  to  their  name,  are  fwart  and  colly. 


[142] 


IF  Sanguine  humor  doe  too  much  abound, 
Thefe  fignes  will  be  thereof  appearing 

cheefe, 
The  face  will  fwell,  the  cheekes  grow  red 

and  round,  [breefe, 

With  ftaring  eyes,  the  pulfe  beate  foft  and 
The  veines  exceed,  the  belly  will  be  bound, 
The  temples  and  the  fore-head  full  of  griefe, 
Vnquiet  fleepes,  that  fo  ftrange  dreames 

will  make, 

To  caufe  one  bluih  to  tell  when  he  doth  wake : 
Befides  the  moifture  of  the  mouth  and  fpittle, 
Will  tafte  too  fweet,  and  feeme  the  throat  to 
tickle. 


IF  Choler  doe  exceed,  as  may  fometimes, 
Your  eares  will  ring,  and  make  you  to  be 
wakefull,  [times 

Your  tongue  will  feeme  all  rough,  and  often- 
Caufe  vomits,  vnaccuftomed  and  hatefull. 
Great  thirft,  your  excrements  are  full  of  flime, 
The  ftomack  fqueamifti,  fuftenance 

vngratef  ull : 

Your  appetite  will  feeme  in  nought  delighting, 
Your  heart  ftill  grieued  with  continuall  byting, 
The  pulfe  beate  hard  and  fwift,  all  hot  extreme, 
Your  fpittle  fowre,  of  fire-worke  oft  you 
dreame. 


[i44l 


IF  Flegme  aboundance  haue  due  limits  paft, 
Thefe  fignes  are  heere  fet  downe  will 

plainely  fhew, 

The  mouth  will  feeme  to  you  quite  out  of  tait, 
And  apt  with  moyfture  ftill  to  ouer-flow: 
Your  fides  will  feeme  all  fore  downe  to 

the  waft,  [{low: 

Your  meate  wax  loathfome,   your  digeftion 
Your  head  and  ftomacke  both  in  fo  ill  taking, 
One  feeming  euer  griping  t'other  aking: 
With  empty  veines  the  pulfe  beate  flow 

and  foft, 
In  fleepe,  of  Seas  and  riuers  dreaming  oft. 


[i45l 


BUT  if  that  dangerous  humor  ouer-raigne, 
Of  Melancholy,  fometime  making  mad, 
Thefe  tokens  then  will  be  appearing  plaine, 
The'pulfe  beate  hard,  the  colour  darke  and  bad : 
The  water  thin,  a  weake  fantafticke  braine, 
Falfe  grounded  ioy,  or  elfe  perpetuall  fad; 
Affrighted  oftentimes  with  dreames  like 

vifions 

Prefenting  to  the  thoughts  ill  apparitions, 
Of  bitter  belches  from  the  ftomacke  comming, 
His  eare  (the  left  efpeciall)  euer  burning. 


[146] 


AGAINST  thefe  feuerall  humors 
ouerflowing, 

As  feuerall  kinds  of  Phyficke  may  be  good, 
As  diet,  drinke,  hot  baths,  whence  fweat  is 

growing, 

With  purging,  vomiting,  and  letting  bloud: 
Which  taken  in  due  time,  not  ouerflowing, 
Each  malladies  infection  is  withftood. 
The  laft  of  thefe  is  beft,  if  skill  and  reafon, 
Refpect  age,  frength,  quantity,  and  feafon. 
Of  feuenty  from  feuenteene,  if  bloud  abound, 
The  opening  of  a  veine  is  healthfull  found. 


[i47l 


OF  Bleeding39  many  profits  grow  and  great, 
The  fpirits  and  fenfes  are  renewed 

thereby: 

Tho  thefe  men  flowly  by  the  ftrength  of  meat, 
But  thefe  with  wine  reftor'd  are  by  and  by. 
By  bleeding,  to  the  marrow  commeth  heat, 
It  maketh  cleane  your  briiine,  relieues 

your  eye, 

It  mends  your  appetite,  reftoreth  fleepe, 
Correcting  humours  that  do  waking  keepe: 
All  inward  parts  and  fenfes  alfo  clearing, 
It  mends  the  voyce,  touch,  fmell  &  taft,  & 
hearing. 


[148] 


THREE  fpeciall  Months  (September,  April, 
May) 

There  are,  in  which  'tis  good  to  ope  a  veine; 
In  thefe  3  Months  the  Moone  beares  greateft 

fway, 

Then  old  or  yong  that  ftore  of  bloud  containe, 
May  bleed  now,  though  fome  elder  wizards  fay 
Some  dayes  are  ill  in  thefe,  I  hold  it  vaine: 
September,  April,  May,  haue  dayes  a  peece, 
That  bleeding  do  forbid,  and  eating  Geefe, 
And  thofe  are  they  forfooth  of  May  the  firft, 
Of  other  two,  the  la  ft  of  each  are  worft. 


[i49l 


BUT  yet  thofe  dales  I  grant,  and  all  the  reft, 
Haue  in  fome  cafes  iuft  impediment:" 
As  firft,  if  nature  be  with  cold  oppreft, 
Or  if  the  Region,  He,  or  Continent 
Do  fcorch  or  freize,  if  ftomacke  meate 

deteft : 

If  Baths  or  Venus  late  you  did  frequent, 
Nor  old,  nor  yong,  nor  drinkers  great  are  fit, 
Not  in  long  fickeneffe,  nor  in  raging  fit, 
Or  in  this  cafe  if  you  will  venture  bleeding, 
The  quantity  muft  then  be  moft  exceeding. 


150] 


Sit  brevis  aut  nullus  tibi  somnus  mcridianus. 


Exhilarat  tristes  iratos  placat  amantes 
Ne  sint  amentes  phlebotomia  facit. 


TT  THEN  you  to  bleed  intend,  you  muft 

»   »        prepare 

Some  needfull  things  both  after  and  before, 
Warme  water  and  fweet  oyle,  both  needfull  are, 
And  wine,  the  fainting  fpirit  to  reftore: 
Fine  binding  clothes  of  linnen,  and  beware, 
That  all  the  morning  you  do  fleepe  no  more : 
Some  gentle  motion  helpeth  after  bleeding, 
And  on  light  meates  a  fpare  and  temperate 

feeding: 

To  bleed  doth  cheere  the  penfiue,  and  remoue 
The  raging  luries  bred  by  burning  loue. 


153 


MAKE  your  incifion  large  and  not  too 
deepe, 

That  bloud  haue  fpeedy  iffue  with  the  fume, 
So  that  from  finewes  you  all  hurt  do  keepe, 
Nor  may  you  (as  I  toucht  before)  prefume 
In  fixe  enfuing  houres  at  all  to  ileepe, 
Left  fome  flight  bruife  in  fleepe  caufe  an 

apoftume: 

Eate  not  of  milke,  nor  ought  of  milk  com- 
pounded, 

Nor  let  your  braine  with  much  drink  be  con- 
founded 
Eate  no  cold  meats,   for  fuch  the   ftrength 

impaires, 
And  fhun  all  mifty  and  vnwholefome  aires. 


[iS4] 


ESIDES  the  former  rules  for  fuch  as 

pleafes, 

Of  letting  bloud  to  take  more  obferuation, 
Know  in  beginning  of  all  fharpe  difeafes, 
'Tis  counted  beft  to  make  euacuation: 
Too  old,   too  yong,   both   letting  bloud   dif- 

pleafes. 

By  yeares  and  fickneffe  make  your  computa- 
tion. 

Firft  in  the  Spring  for  quantity  you  mall 
Of  bloud  take  twife  as  much  as  in  the  Fall: 
In  Spring  and  Summer  let  the  right  arme  bloud, 
The  Fall  and  Winter  for  the  left  are  good. 


THE  Heart  and  Liuer,  Spring  &  Summers 
bleeding, 
The  Fall  and  Winter,   hand  and  foot  doth 

mend, 

One  veine40  cut  in  the  hand,  doth  help  ex- 
ceeding 
Vnto  the  fpleene,  voyce,  breft,  and  intrailes 

lend, 
And   fwages   griefes    that   in   the   heart    are 

breeding. 

But  here  the  Salerne  Schoole  doth  make  an  end : 
And  here  I  ceafe  to  write,  but  will  not  ceafe 
To  wifh  you  Hue  in  health,  and  die  in  peace: 
And  ye  our  Phyficke  rules  that  friendly  read, 
God  grant  that  Phyficke  you  may  neuer  need. 

FINIS. 


[156] 


REGIMEN  SANITATIS 
SALERNITANUM 


REGIMEN  SANITATIS 
SALERNITANUM 

ANGLORUM  Regi  scripsit1  schola  tota  Salerni. 

Si  vis  incolumem,  si  vis  te  reddere  sanum, 
Curas  tolle  graves,  irasci  crede  profanum, 
Parce  mero,  coenato  parum,  non  sit  tibi  vanum 
Surgere  post  epulas,  somnum  fuge  meridianum, 
Non   mictum   retine,    nee   comprime   fortiter 

anum: 
Haec  bene  si  serves,  tu  longo  tempore  vives. 

Si  tibi  deficiant  medici,  medici  tibi  fiant 
Haec  tria,  mens  laeta,  requies,  moderata  diaeta. 

Lumina  mane  manus  surgens  gelida  lavet 

aqua, 
Hac  iliac  modicum  pergat,  modicumque  sua 

membra 

Extendat,  crines  pectat,  dentes  fricet.     Ista 
Confortant  cerebrum,  confortant  csetera  membra. 

1  Notes  for  this  and  other  indicated  passages  will  be  found  on 
page  203  and  the  pages  following. 

[1591 


Lote,  cale:  sta,  pranse,  vel  i;  frigesce,  minute.2 

Sit  brevis  aut  nullus  tibi  somnus  meridianus. 
Febris,  pigrities,  capitis  dolor,  atque  catarrhus, 
Hsec  tibi  proveniunt  ex  somno  meridiano. 

Quatuor  ex  vento  veniunt  in  ventre  retento, 
Spasmus,  hydrops,  colica,  vertigo,  quatuor  ista.3 

Ex  magna  coena  stomacho  fit  maxima  poena. 
Ut  sis  nocte  levis  sit  tibi  coena  brevis. 

Tu  nunquam  comedas  stomachum  nisi  nov- 

eris  ante 
Purgatum,  vacuumque  cibo  quern  sumpseris 

ante. 

Ex  desiderio  poteris  cognoscere  certo: 
Haec  tua  sunt  signa,  subtilis  in  ore  diseta.4 

Persica,  poma,  pyra,  lac,  caseus,  et  caro  salsa, 
Et  caro  cervina,  leporina,  caprina,  bovina, 
Hsec  melancholica  sunt,  infirmis  inimica. 

Ova  recentia,  vina  rubentia,  pinguia  jura, 
Cum  simila  pura,  naturae  sunt  valitura. 

Nutrit  et  impinguat  triticum,  lac,  caseus 

infans, 

Testiculi,  porcina  caro,  cerebella,  medullas, 
Dulcia  vina,  cibus  gustu  jucundior,  ova 
[160] 


Sorbilia,  maturse  ficus,  uvaeque  recentes. 

Vina  probantur  odore,  sapore,  nitore,  colore. 
Si  bona  vina  cupis,  haec  quinque  probantur  in 

illis, 

Fortia,  formosa,  fragrantia,  frigida,  frisca.5 
Sunt  nutritiva  plus  dulcia,  Candida,  vina. 
Si  vinum  rubens  nimium  quandoque  bibatur 
Venter  stipatur,  vox  limpida  turbificatur. 

Allia,  nux,  ruta,  pyra,  raphanus,  et  theriaca, 
Haec  sunt  antidotum  contra  mortale  venenum.6 

Aer  sit  mundus,  habitabilis  ac  luminosus. 
Nee  sit  infectus,  nee  olens  fcetore  cloacae. 

Si  tibi  scrotina  noceat  potatio  vini 
Hora  matutina  rebibas,  et  erit  medicina. 
Gignit  et  humores  melius  vinum  meliores. 
Si  fuerit  nigrum,  corpus  reddet  tibi  pigrum. 
Vinum   sit  clarumque   vetus,   subtile,    matu- 

rum,7 

Ac    bene    lymphatum,    saliens,    moderamine 
sumptum.8 

Non  sit  acetosa  cervisia,  sed  bene  clara, 
De  validis  cocta  granis,  satis  ac  veterata. 
De  qua  potetur  stomachus  non  inde  gravetur.9 
[161] 


Temporibus  veris  modicum  prandere  jube- 

ris, 

Sed  calor  aestatis  dapibus  nocet  immoderatis. 
Autumni  fructus  caveas;  ne  sint  tibi  luctus. 
De  mensa  sume  quantum  vis  tempore  brumae. 

Salvia  cum  ruta  faciunt  tibi  pocula  tuta. 
Adde  rosse  florem  minuit  potenter  amorem. 

De  Absynthio. 

Nausea  non  poterit  quemquam  vexare  ma- 
rina, 
Antea  cum  vino  mixtam  si  sumpserit  illam. 

Salvia,  sal,  vinum,  piper,  allia,  petroselinum,10 
Ex  his  fit  salsa,  nisi  sit  commixtio  falsa. 
Si  fore  vis  sanus  ablue  ssepe  manus.11 
Lotio  post  mensam  tibi  confert  munera  bina, 
Mundificat  palmas,  et  lumina  reddit  acuta. 

Panis  non  calidus,  nee  sit  nimis  inveteratus, 
Sed  fermentatus,  oculatus  sit,  bene  coctus, 
Modice  salitus,  frugibus  validis  sit  electus. 
Non  comedas  crustam,  choleram  quia  gignit 

adustam. 

Panis  salsatus,  fermentatus,  bene  coctus, 
Purus  sit  sanus,  quia  non  ita  sit  tibi  vanus. 
[162] 


Est  caro  porcina  sine  vino  pejor  ovina: 
Si  tribuis  vina,  tune  est  cibus  et  medicina. 
Ilia   porcorum   bona    sunt,    mala   sunt   re- 

liquorum. 
mpedit  urinam  mustum,  solvit  cito  ven- 

trem,12 
Hepatis    emphraxim,    splenis    general,    lapi- 

demque. 
Potus  aquae  sumptus  fit  edenti  valde  noci- 

vus, 
Infrigidat  stomachumque  cibum  nititur  fore 

crudum. 

Sunt  nutritivse  multum  carnes  vitulinse.13 
Sunt  bona  gallina,  et  capo,  turtur,  sturna,  co- 

lumba, 

Quiscula,  vel  merula,  phasianus,  ethigoneta,14 
Perdix,  frigellus,  orix,  tremulus,  amarellus, 

Si  pisces  molles  sunt  magno  corpore  tolles,15 
Si  pisces  duri,  parvi  sunt  plus  valituri: 
Lucius,  et  parca,  saxaulis,  et  albica,  tenca, 
Sornus,  plagitia,  cum  carpa,  galbio,  truca.16 

Vocibus  anguillae  pravse  sunt  si  comedantur. 
Qui  physicam  non  ignorant  haec  testificantur. 
[163] 


Caseus,  anguilla,  nimis  obsunt  si  comedantur, 
Ni  tu  saepe  bibas  et  rebibendo  bibas.17 
Si  sumas  ovum  molle  sit  atque  novum. 
Pisam  laudare  decrevimus  ac  reprobare. 
Pellibus  ablatis  est  bona  pisa  satis18 
Est  inflativa  cum  pellibus  atque  nociva. 
Lac  ethicis  sanum,  caprinum  post  cameli- 

num  :19 

Ac  nutritivum  plus  omnibus  est  asininum. 
Plus  nutritivum  vaccinum,  sic  et  ovinum. 
Si  febriat  caput  et  doleat  non  est  bene  sanum. 
Lenit  et  humectat,  solvit  sine  febre  buty- 

rum. 
Incidit,    atque    lavat,    penetrat,     mundat 

quoque,  serum. 
Caseus  est  frigidus,  stipans,  grossus,  quoque 

durus. 

Caseus  et  panis,  bonus  est  cibus  hie  bene  sanis.20 
Si  non  sunt  sani  tune  hunc  non  jungito  pani. 

Ignari  medici  me  dicunt  esse  novicum, 
Sed  tamen  ignorant  cur  nocumenta  feram.21 
Languenti  stomacho  caseus  addit  opem,B 
Si  post  sumatur  terminat  ille  dapes.23 
fi64] 


Qui  physicam  non  ignorant  haec  testificantur. 
Inter  prandendum  sit  saepe  parumque  biben- 

dum. 

Ut  minus  aegrotes  non  inter  fercula  potes. 
Ut  vites  poenam  de  potibus  incipe  caenam, 
Singula  post  ova  pocula  sume  nova.24 

Post  pisces  nux  sit,  post  carnes  caseus  adsit 
Unica  nux  prodest,  nocet  altera,  tertia  mors 

est. 

Adde  potum  pyro,  nux  est  medicina  veneno. 
Fert  pyra  nostra  pyrus,  sine  vino  sunt  pyra 

virus. 

Si  pyra  sunt  virus  sit  meledicta  pyrus. 
Si  coquas,   antidotum  pyra  sunt,   sed  cruda 

venenum.25 
Cruda    gravant    stomachum,    relevant    pyra 

cocta  gravatum 
Post  pyra  da  potum,  post  pomum  vade  faeca- 

tum.26 

Cerasa  si  comedas  tibi  confert  grandia  dona : 
Expurgant  stomachum,  nucleus  lapidem  tibi 

tollit,27 

Et  de  carne  sua  sanguis  eritque  bonus. 
[165] 


Infrigidant,   laxant,   multum  prosunt  tibi, 

pruna.28 

Persica  cum  musto  vobis  datur  ordine  justo. 
Sumere    sic   est    mos:   nucibus   sociando   ra- 

cemos. 

Passula  non  spleni,  tussi  valet,  est  bona  reni. 
Scrofa,  tumor,  glandes,  ficus  cataplasmate 

cedit,29 

Junge  papaver  ei  confracta  foris  tenet  ossa. 
Pediculos,  veneremque  facit,  sed  cuilibet  ob- 

stat.30 
Multiplicant  mictum,  ventrem  dant  escula 

strictum. 

Escula  dura  bona,  sed  mollia  sunt  meliora.31 
Provocat  urinam  mustum,  cito  solvit  et  in- 
flat. 

Grossos  humores  nutrit  cerevisia,  vires 
Prsestat,    et   augmentat   carnem,   generatque 

cruorem, 
Provocat  urinam,  ventrem  quoque  mollit  et 

inflat. 

Infrigidat  modicum,  sed  plus  desiccat  ace- 
tum, 

[166] 


Infrigidat,  macerat,  melan:  dat,  sperma  min- 

orat, 

Siccos  infestat  nervos,  et  impinguia  siccat. 
Rapa   juvat   stomachum,    novit   producere 

ventum, 

Provocat  urinam,  faciet  quoque  dente  ruinam.32 
Si  male  cocta  datur  hinc  torsio  tune  generatur. 
Egeritur  tarde  cor,  digeritur  quoque  dure. 
Similiter  stomachus,  melior  sit  in  extremitates. 
Reddit  lingua  bonum  nutrimentum  medicinse. 
Digeritur  facile  pulmo,  cito  labitur  ipse. 

Est  melius  cerebrum  gallinarum  reliquorum. 
Semen  fceniculi  fugat  et  spiracula  culi.33 
Emendat  visum,   stomachum  comfortat  ani- 

sum. 

Copia  dulcoris  anisi  sit  melioris.34 
Si    cruor    emanat    spodium    sumptum    cito 

sanat.35 

Vas  condimenti  prseponi  debet  edenti. 
Sal  virus  refugat,  et  non  sapidumque  saporat. 
Nam  sapit  esca  male  quse  datur  absque  sale. 
Urunt  persalsa  visum,  spermaque  minorant, 
Et  generant  scabiem,  pruritum  sive  rigorem.36 
[167] 


Hi  fervore  vigent  tres,  salsus,  amarus,  acu- 

tus37. 

Alget  acetosus,  sic  stipans,  ponticus  atque. 
Unctus,   et  insipidus,   dulcis,   dant  tempera- 

mentum. 
Bis  duo  vippa  facit,  mundat  dentes,  dat 

acutum 
Visum,  quod  minus  est  implet,  minuit  quod 

abundat. 

Omnibus  assuetam  jubeo  servare  disetam. 
Approbo  sic  esse,  nisi  sit  mutare  necesse. 
Est  Hippocras  testis,  quoniam  sequitur  mala 

pestis. 

Fortior  est  meta  medicinae  certa  diaeta: 
Quam  si  non  curas,  fatue  regis,  et  male  curas. 
Quale,  quid,  et  quando,  quantum,  quoties,  ubi, 

dando, 
Ista  notare  cibo  debet  medicus  diaetando.38 

Jus  caulis  solvit,  cujus  substantia  stringit: 

Utraque  quando  datur  venter  laxare  paratur. 

Dixerunt  malvam  veteres  quia  molliat  al- 

vum. 

Malvae  radices  rasae  dedere  faeces,39 
[168! 


Vulvam  moverunt,  et  fluxum  ssepe  dederunt. 

Mentitur  mentha  si  sit  depellere  lenta 
Ventris  lumbricos,  stomach!  vermes  que  noci- 

vos. 
Cur   moriatur   homo   cui   salvia   crescit   in 

horto  ? 
Contra  vim  mortis  non  est  medicamen  in  hor- 

tis.40 

Salvia  confortat  nervos,  manuumque  tremores41 
Tollit,  et  ejus  ope  febris  acuta  fugit. 
Salvia,  castoreum,  lavendula,  premula  veris, 
Nastur :  athanasia,  sanant  paralytica  membra.42 
Salvia  salvatrix,  naturae  consiliatrix. 

Nobilis  est  ruta  quia  lumina  reddit  acuta. 
Auxilio  rutse,  vir,  quippe  videbis  acute. 
Ruta  viris  coitum  minuit,  mulieribus  auget.43 
Ruta  facit  castum,  dat  lumen,  et  ingerit  astum. 
Cocta  facit  ruta  de  pulicibus  loca  tuta. 

De  cepis  medici  non  consentire  videntur. 
Cholericis  non  esse  bonas  dicit  Galienus. 
Flegmaticis  vero  multum  docet  esse  salubres, 
Praesertim  stomacho,  pulcrumque  creare  col- 
orem. 

[169] 


Contritis  cepis  loca  denudata  capillis 

Saepe   fricans   poteris   capitis   reparare   deco- 

rem>44and45 

Est  modicum  granum,  siccum,  calidumque, 

sinapi, 
Dat  lacrimas,  purgatque  caput,  tollitque  vene- 

num. 
Crapula  discutitur,  capitis  dolor,  atque  gra- 

vedo, 
Purpuream  dicunt  violam  curare  caducos. 

De  Urtica. 

JEgns  dat  somnum,  vomitum  quoque  tollit 

adversum, 
Compescit  tussim   veterem,    colicisqus   med- 

etur, 

Pellit  pulmonis  frigus,  ventrisque  tumorem,46 
Omnibus  et  morbis  subveniet  articulorum. 
Hyssopus    est    herba    purgans    a    pectore 

phlegma. 
Ad  pulmonis  opus  cum  melle  coquatur  hysso- 

pus: 

Vultibus  eximium  fertur  reparare  colorem. 
[170] 


De  Cerifolio. 

Suppositum  cancris  tritum  cum  melle  med- 

etur, 

Cum  vino  potum  poterit  separare  dolorem. 
Saepe  solet  vomitum  ventremque  tenere  solu- 

tum.47 

Enula  campana  reddit  prsecordia  sana. 
Cum  succo  rutae  si  succus  sumitur  hujus,48 
Affirmant  ruptis  nil  esse  salubrius  istis. 

De  Pulegio. 

Cum  vino  choleram  nigram  potata  repellit: 
Sic   dicunt   veterem   sumptum   curare  poda- 
gram.49 

De  Nasturtio. 

Illius  succo  crines  retinere  fluentes 
Allitus  asseritur,  dentisque  curare  dolorem,60 
Et  squamas  succus  sanat  cum  melle  perunctus. 

De  Celedonia. 

Ccecatis  pullis  hac  lumina  mater  hirundo, 
Plinius  ut  scribit,  quamvis  sint  eruta  reddit. 
[171] 


De  Sal-ice. 

Auribus  infusus  vermes  succus  necat  ejus. 
Cortex  verrucas  in  aceto  cocta  resolvit. 
Pomorum  succus  flos  partus  destruit  ejus. 

Comfortare  crocus  dicatur  laetificando, 
Membraque  defecta  confortat  hepar  reparando 

De  Porro. 

Reddit  fcecundas  permansum  saepe  puellas. 
Isto  stillantem  poteris  retinere  cruorem.51 
Quod  piper  est  nigrum  non  est  dissolvere 

pigrum, 

Flegmata  purgabit,  digestivamque  juvabit.52 
Leucopiper  stomacho  prodest,  tussique  dolori 
Utile,  prseveniet  motum  febrisque  rigorem. 
Et  mox  post  escam  dormire  nimisque  mo- 
ver!: 

Ista  gravare  solent  auditus,  ebrietasque. 
Metus,    longa    fames,    vomitus,    percussio, 

casus, 

Ebrietas,  frigus,  tinnitum  causat  in  aure. 
Balnea,  vina,  Venus,  ventus,  piper,  allia, 
fumus, 

[172] 


Porri,  cum  cepis,  lens,  fletus,  faba,  sinapi, 
Sol,  coitus,  ignis,  labor,  ictus,  acumina,  pulvis, 
Ista  nocent  oculis,  sed  vigilare  magis. 
Feniculis,  verbena,  rosa,  celidonia,  ruta,63 
Ex  istis  fit  aqua  quse  lumina  reddit  acuta. 

Sic  dentes  serva,  porrorum  collige  grana. 
Ne  careas  jure,  (thure?)  cum  hyoscyamo  simul 

ure. 
Sicque  per  embotum  fumum  cape  dente  re- 

motum.64 

Nux,  oleum,  f  rigus  capitis,  anguillaque,  potus, 
Ac   pomum   crudum,    faciunt   hominem   fore 

raucum. 

Jejuna,  vigila,  caleas  dape,  valde  labora, 
Inspira    calidum,    modicum    bibe,    comprime 

flatum: 

Hsec  bene  tu  serva  si  vis  depellere  rheuma. 
Si  fluat  ad  pectus,  dicatur  rheuma  catarrhus: 
Ad  fauces  bronchus:  ad  nares  esto  coryza. 

Auripigmentum,  sulphur,  miscere  memento: 
His  decet  apponi  calcem:  commisce  saponi. 
Quatuor  hsec  misce.     Commixtis  quatuor  istis 
Fistula  curatur,  quater  ex  his  si  repleatur.55 
[i73] 


Ossibus  ex  denis,  bis  centenisque,  novenis, 
Constat  homo:  denis  bis  dentibus  ex  duodenis: 
Ex  tricentenis,  decies  sex,  quinqueque  venis.66 
Quatuor  humores  in  humano  corpore  con- 
stant: 

Sanguis  cum  cholera,  phlegma,  melancholia. 
Terra  melan:  aqua  fleg:  et  aer  sanguis,  cole: 

ignis.57 

Natura  pingues  isti  sunt  atque  jocantes, 
Semper  rumores  cupiunt  audire  frequentes. 
Hos  Venus  et  Bacchus  delectant,  fercula,  risus, 
Et  facit  hos  hilares,  et  dulcia  verba  loquentes. 
Omnibus  hi  studiis  habiles  sunt,  et  magis  apti. 
Qualibet  ex  causa  nee  hos  leviter  movet  ira. 
Largus,  amans,  hilaris,  ridens,  rubeique  coloris, 
Cantans,  carnosus,  satis  audax,  atque  benig- 

nus. 
Est  et  humor  cholerae,  qui  competit  impetu- 

osis. 
Hoc  genus  est  hominum  cupiens  praecellere 

cunctos. 

Hi  leviter  discunt,   multum   comedunt,   cito 
crescunt. 

[i74] 


Inde  magnanimi  sunt,  largi,  summa  petentes. 
Hirsutus,  fallax,  irascens,  prodigus,  audax, 
Astutus,  gracilis,  siccus,  croceique  colons 
Phlegma    vires    modicas    tribuit,    latosque, 

brevesque.58 
Flegma  facit   pingues,   sanguis   reddit  medi- 

ocres. 

Otia  non  studio  tradunt,  sed  corpora  somno.69 
Sensus  hebes,  tardus  motus,  pigritia,  somnus. 
Hie  somnolentus,  piger,  in  sputamine  multus. 
Est  huic  sensus  hebes,  pinguis,  facie  color  al- 

bus. 
Restat    adhuc    tristis    choleras    substantia 

nigrae, 

Qu93  reddit  pravos,pertristes,pauca  loquentes.60 
Hi  vigilant  studiis,  nee  mens  est  dedita  somno, 
Servant  propositum,  sibi  nil  reputant  fore 

tutum. 

Invidus,  et  tristis,  cupidus,  dextraeque  tenacis, 
Non  expers  frandis,  timidus,  luteique  colons. 
Hi  sunt  humores  qui  praestant  cuique  col- 
ores. 

Omnibus  in  rebus  ex  phlegmate  fit  color  albus. 
[i7S] 


Sanguine   fit   rubens:   cholera   rubea   quoque 

rufus.61 

Si  peccet  sanguis,  facies  rubet,  extat  ocellus, 
Inflantur  gense,  corpus  nimiumque  gravatur, 
Est  pulsusque  frequens,  plenus,  mollis,  dolor 

ingens 

Maxime  fit  frontis,  et  constipatio  ventris, 
Siccaque  lingua,  sitis,  et  somnia  plena  rubore, 
Dulcor  adest  sputi,  sunt  acria,  dulcia,  quseque.62 
Denus    septenus    vix    phlebotomiam    oetit 

annus. 

Spiritus  uberior  exit  per  phlebotomiam. 
Spiritus  ex  potu  vini  mox  multiplicatur, 
Humorumque  cibo  damnum  lente  reparatur. 
Lumina  clarificat,  sincerat  phlebotomia 
Mentes  et  cerebrum,  calidas  facit  esse  medul- 
las, 
Viscera  purgabit,  stomachum  ventremque  co- 

ercet, 

Puros  dat  sensus,  dat  somnum,  tsedia  tollit, 
Auditus,  vocem,  vires  producit  et  auget. 
Tres  insunt  istis  (Maius,  September,  April- 
is), 

[176] 


Et  sunt  hmares  sunt  velut  hydra  dies: 
Prima  dies  primi,  postremaque  posteriorum : 
Nee  sanguis  minui,  nee  carnibus  anseris  uti. 
In  sene  vel  juvene  si  venae  sanguine  plense 
Omni  mense  bene  confert  incisio  venae. 
Hi  sunt  tres  menses,  Maius,  September,  April- 
is, 
In  quibus  eminaus  ut  longo  tempore  vivas, 

Frigida  natura,  frigens  regio,  dolor  ingens, 
Post  lavacrum,  coitum,  minor  setas  atque  sen- 

ilis,63 

Morbus  prolixus,  repletio  potus  et  escae,64 
Si  fragilis,  vel  subtilis  sensus  stomachi  sit, 
Et  fastiditi,  tibi  non  sunt  phlebotomandi. 

Quid  debes  f  acere  quando  vis  phlebotomari,65 
Vel  quando  minuis,  fueris  vel  quando  minutus  ? 
Unctio,  sive  potus,  lavacrum,  vel  fascia,  motus,66 
Debent  non  fragili  tibi  singula  mente  teneri. 

Exhilarat  tristes,  iratos  placat,  amantes 
Ne  sint  amentes,  phlebotomia  facit. 

Fac    plagam    largam    mediocriter,    ut    cito 

fumus 

Exeat  uberius,  liberiusque  cruor. 
[i77] 


Sanguine  subtracto,  sex  horis  est  vigilan- 

dum, 

Ne  somni  fumus  laedat  sensibile  corpus. 
Ne  nervum  Isedas,   non   sit   tibi   plaga  pro- 

funda. 
Sanguine  purgatus  non  carpas  protinus  escas. 

Omnia  de  lacte  vitabis  rite,  minute, 
Et  vitet  potum  phlebotomatus  homo. 
Frigida  vitabis,  quia  sunt  inimica  minutis. 
Interdictus  erit  minutis  nubilus  aer. 
Spiritus  exultat  minutis  luce  per  auras. 
Omnibus  apta  quies,  est  motus  valde  nocivus. 

Principio  minuas  in  acutis,  peracutis. 
^tatis  mediae  multum  de  sanguine  tolle, 
Sed  puer  atque  senex  toilet  uterque  parum. 
Ver  tollat  duplum,  reliquum  tempus  tibi  sim- 

plum. 
^Estas,  ver,  dextras:  autumnus,  hiemsque, 

sinistras. 
Quatuor  haec  membra,  cephe,  cor,  pes,  hepar, 

vacuanda.67 

Ver  cor,  hepar  sestas,  ordo  sequens  reliquas. 
Dat  salvatella  tibi  plurima  dona  minuta:63 
[178] 


Purgat    hepar,    splenem,    pectus,    praecordia, 

vocem, 
Innaturalem  tollit  de  corde  dolorem.69 

Si  dolor  est  capitis  ex  potu,  limpha  bibatur, 
Ex  potu  nimio  nam  febris  acuta  creatur. 
Si  vertex  capitis,  vel  frons,  aestu  tribulentur, 
Tempora  fronsque  simul  moderate  saepe  fri- 

centur 

Morella  cocta,  nee  non  calidaque  laventur. 
Temporis  sestivi  jejunia  corpora  siccant. 
Quolibet  in  mense  confert  vomitus,  quoque 

purgat 
Humores    nocuos    stomachi,    lavat    ambitus 

omnes. 
Ver,  autumnus,  hiems,  sestas,  dominantur  in 

anno. 

Tempore  vernal!  calidus  fit  aer,  humidusque, 
Et  nullum  tempus  melius  fit  phlebotomise. 
Usus  tune  homini  Veneris  confert  moderatus, 
Corporis  et  motus,  ventrisque  solutio,  sudor, 
Balnea,  purgentur  tune  corpora   cum   medi- 

cinis. 

JEstas  more  calet  sicca,  nascatur  in  ilia 
[i79] 


Tune  quoque  prsecipue  choleram  rubeam  dom- 
inari. 

Humida,  frigida  fercula  dentur,  sit  Venus  ex- 
tra, 

Balnea  non  prosunt,  sint  rarse  phlebotomise, 

Utilis  est  requies,  sit  cum  moderamine  potus. 


NOTES  ON  THE  ENGLISH  TEXT 

(1)  According  to  Suetonius  in  his  life  of  the  Emperor 
Claudius,  the  latter  had  in  contemplation  the  issuance 
of   a    proclamation   justifying   the   emission    of  flatus 
wherever  and  whenever  the  need  might  exist.     Mon- 
taigne in  his  Essay  on  the  Force  of  the  Imagination 
expresses  the  wish  that  the  Emperor  might  at  the  same 
time  have  granted  also  the  power  to  do  so. 

(2)  i.  e.     This  is  indicated  in  the  common  expression 
"the  mouth  waters." 

(3)  Avicenna  thought  peaches  a  wholesome  food  if 
eaten    before    other    heavier    articles    of    diet.     The 
Ancients    lay    stress    on    the    difficulty    of   obtaining 
peaches  exactly  ripe  and  dwell  on  the  dangers  of  the 
fruit  when  either  unripe  or  overripe.     Pears  were   re- 
garded   as    in    general    unwholesome    because    of   the 
difficulty   with   which   they   undergo   digestion,    being 
very  apt  to  produce  colic  and   flatus.     Apples  were 
regarded  as  indigestible  because  "they  engender  ventu- 
osities  in  the  second  digestion."     Milk  was  dangerous 
for  the  sick  because  of  its  tendency  to  curdle;  but 
Hippocrates   recommended    its   use   in   phthisis.     The 
command  to  abstain  from  salt  meat  is  very  much  in 
line  with  the  modern  "salt-free  diet."     Hare  and  goat's 
flesh  were  held  to  "engender  melancholly  blood." 

(4)  Manchet.     Fine  white  bread. 

(5)  Dowcet.     Testicle. 


(6)  Muskadell.     Muscatel  was  a  term  applied  to  a 
number  of  different  sweet  wines  made  in  Italy,  Spain, 
and  France.     Candy  wine — wine  of  Candia. 

(7)  The   fruit   of  the   Mesphilus    Germanica — very 
much  like  a  small  apple;  it  was  only  eaten  when  some- 
what overripe. 

Gerarde  (Herbal,  ed.  1636)  says:  "Medlars  do  stop 
the  belly,  especially  when  they  be  greene  and  hard, 
for  after  they  haue  been  kept  awhile,  so  that  they 
become  soft  and  tender,  they  do  not  binde  or  stop  so 
much,  but  are  then  more  fit  to  be  eaten.  The  fruit 
of  the  three  graine  Medlar,  is  eaten  both  raw  and 
boyled,  and  is  more  wholesom  for  the  stomacke.  These 
Medlars  be  oftentimes  preserued  with  sugar  or  hony: 
and  being  so  prepared  they  are  pleasant  and  delightful 
to  the  taste.  Moreover,  they  are  singular  good  for 
women  with  childe:  for  they  strengthen  the  stomacke 
and  stay  the  loathsomeness  thereof.  The  stones  or 
kernals  of  the  Medlars,  made  into  pouder  and  drunke, 
doe  breake  the  stone,  expell  grauell,  and  procure  urine." 

66  "Rosalind.  I'll  graff  it  with  you,  and  then  shall  I 
graffit  with  a  medlar;  then  it  will  be  the  earliest  fruit 
i'  the  country;  for  you'll  be  rotten  ere  you  be  half 
ripe,  and  that's  the  right  virtue  of  the  medlar."  As 
You  Like  It,  Act  III,  Sc.  II. 

(8)  Vinegar  was  formerly  held  in  great  esteem  for 
the  several  reasons  mentioned   in  the  text.     It  was 
supposed  to  reduce  obesity,  to  act  as  a  sexual  sedative 
and  was  in  great  demand  as  a  disinfectant.     Matthew 
Carey  in  his  account  of  the  epidemic  of  yellow  fever 

[182] 


in  Philadelphia  in  the  year  1793  states  that  "Those 
who  ventured  abroad,  had  handkerchiefs  or  sponges, 
impregnated  with  vinegar  or  camphor,  at  their  noses, 
or  smelling  bottles  full  of  thieves'  vinegar."  The  latter, 
or  vinegar  of  the  four  thieves,  as  it  was  more  usually 
termed,  was  a  preparation  the  composition  of  which 
was  said  to  have  been  discovered  by  four  young  men 
during  the  plague  at  Marseilles  in  1720.  It  was 
claimed  to  have  rendered  them  immune  from  the  disease 
and  enabled  them  to  rob  the  sick  while  pretending  to 
serve  as  nurses. 

(9)  Tripe.     The     stomach     and     intestines.     Lites. 
(Lights)  The  Lungs. 

(10)  Gerarde  (Herbal,  ed.  1636,  page  1032)  says  of 
fennel  (fceniculum  vulgare),   "The  powder  of  the  seed 
of  fennell  drunke   for  certaine   daies  together  fasting 
preserueth    the    eye-sight:    whereof  was   written   this 
Distichon  following: 

Fceniculum,  Rosa  Verbena,  Chelidonia,  Ruta, 
Ex  his  fit  aquaqua  lumina  reddit  acuata. 

Of  Fennell,  Roses,  Vervain,  Rue,  and  Celandine, 
Is  made  a  water  good  to  clere  the  sight  of  eine. 

The  green  leaves  of  Fennel  eaten  or  the  seed  drunke 
made  into  a  Ptisan,  do  fill  womens  brests  with  milke. 

The  decoction  of  Fennell  drunke  easeth  the  paines 
of  the  kidnies,  causeth  one  to  auoid  the  stone,  and 
prouketh  urine. 

The  roots  are  as  effectuall,  and  not  onely  good  for 

[183] 


the  intents  aforesaid,  but  against  the  dropsie  also, 
being  boiled  in  wine  and  drunken. 

Fennell  seed  drunke  asswageth  the  paine  ofthestom- 
acke,  and  wambling  of  the  same  or  desire  to  vomit, 
and  breaketh  winde. 

The  herbe,  seed,  and  root  of  Fennell  are  very  good 
for  the  lungs,  the  liver,  and  the  kidnies,  for  it  openeth 
the  obstructions  or  stoppings  of  the  same,  and  com- 
forteth  the  inward  parts. 

The  seed  and  herbe  of  sweet  Fennell  is  equall  in 
vertues  with  Annise  seed." 

(11)  Spodium.     Greek  (oirodtvp)  ashes. 

(12)  Gerarde  (Herbal,  ed.  1636,  page  1302)  says  of 
licorice: 

"The  root  of  Licorice  is  good  against  the  rough 
harshnesse  of  the  throat  and  brest;  it  opens  the  pipes 
of  the  lungs  when  they  be  stuffed  or  stopt,  ripeneth 
the  cough,  and  bringeth  forth  flegme.  *  *  *  It  is 
good  against  hoarseneses,  difficulties  of  breathing,  in- 
flammation of  the  lungs,  the  pleurisie,  spitting  of  bloud 
or  matter,  consumption  and  rottennesse  of  the  lungs, 
all  infirmities  and  ruggednesse  of  the  chest." 

(13)  The  caper  bush  belongs  to  the  genus  Capparis. 

(14)  Gerarde   (Herbal,  ed.    1636,   page  33)   says  of 
gallingale,  the  alpinia  officinarum,  or  galanga: 

"These  roots  *  *  *  strengthen  the  stomach, 
and  mitigate  the  pains  thereof  arising  from  cold  and 
flatulencies.  The  smell  *  *  *  comforts  the  too 
cold  braine;  the  substance  thereof  being  chewed 

[184! 


sweetens  the  breath.  It  is  good  also  against  the  beating 
of  the  heart.  They  are  useful  against  the  collicke 
proceeding  of  flatulencies,  and  the  flatulent  affects  of 
the  wombe;  they  conduce  to  venery,  and  heate  the  too 
cold  reines.  To  conclude  they  are  good  against  all 
cold  diseases." 

(15)  Scorbutic   disorders   of  the   skin  were  terribly 
prevalent  among  those  who  went  on  long  sea  voyages 
in  times  when  their  chief  article  of  food  was  salted 
meats. 

(16)  Colewort  or  cabbages  were  held  in  much  es- 
teem  for  their  supposed   medicinal   properties.     Ger- 
arde  (Herbal,  ed.  1636,  page  317)  gives  a  lengthy  list 
of  the  various  uses  to  which  the  different  parts  of  the 
plant  were  applied :    Thus  Dioscorides  taught  that  it  was 
good  when  eaten  "for  them  that  have  dim  eies,  and 
that  are  troubled  with  a  shaking  palsie;"  "It  is  reported, 
that  colewort  beeing  eaten  before  meate,  doth  preserue 
a  man  from  drunkennesse:  the  reason  is  yeelded,  for 
that  there  is  a  naturall  enmitie  betweene  it  and  the 
vine,  which  is  such,  as  if  it  grow  neere  vnto  it,  forth- 
with the  vine  perisheth  and  withereth  away."     "Pliny 
writeth,  that  the  iuice  mixed  with  wine,  and  dropped 
into  the  eares  is  a  remedy  against  deafnesse."  *  *  * 
etc.,  etc. 

(17)  Gerarde  (Herbal,  ed.   1636,  page  932)  says  of 
the  virtues  of  mallow:    "The  leaves  of  Mallowes  are 
good  against  the  stinging  of  Scorpions,  Bees,  Wasps, 
and  such  like:  and  if  a  man  be  first  annointed  with  the 

[185] 


leaves  stamped  with  a  little  oile,  he  shall  not  be  stung 
at  all,  as  Dioscorides  saith.  The  decoctions  of  mal- 
lowes  with  their  roots  drunken  are  good  against  all 
venome  and  poyson,  if  it  be  incontinently  taken  after 
the  poyson,  so  that  it  be  vomited  up  againe. 

"The  leaves  of  mallowes  boiled  till  they  be  soft  and 
applied,  doe  mollifie  tumors  and  hard  swellings  of  the 
mother,  if  they  so  withal  sit  over  the  fume  thereof 
and  bathe  themselves  therewith. 

"The  decoction  used  in  clysters  is  good  against  the 
roughness  and  fretting  of  the  guts,  bladder,  and  funda- 
ment. The  roots  of  the  Veruaine-m allow  do  heale  the 
bloudy  flix  and  inward  burstings,  being  drunke  with 
wine  and  water,  as  Dioscorides  and  Paulus  Aegineta 
testifie." 

(18)  Mint  was  anciently  a  very  popular  remedy  in 
all  disorders  associated  with  the  female  organs.     It 
was  also  used  very  greatly  in  digestive  disturbances. 

(19)  The  statement  in  Gerarde's  Herbal,  ed.  1636, 
page  766,  fully  agrees  with  the  laudation  of  sage  con- 
tained in  the  Regimen:     "Agrippa  and  likewise  Aetius 
haue  called  it  the  Holy-herbe,  because  women  with 
childe  if  they  be  like  to  come  before  their  time,  and  are 
troubled  with   abortments,   do  eate  thereof  to  their 
great  good;  for  it  closeth  the  matrix,  and  maketh  them 
fruitfull,  it  retaineth  the  birth,  and  giveth  it  life,  and 
if  the  woman  about  the  fourth  day  of  her  going  abroad 
after  her  childing,  shall  drinke  nine  ounces  of  the  juyce 
of  sage  with  a  little  salt,  and  then  use  the  company 
of  her  husband,  she  shall  without  doubt  conceire  and 

[186] 


bring  forth  store  of  children,  which  are  the  blessing 
of  God.  *  *  * 

Sage  is  singular  good  for  the  head  and  braine;  ic 
quickeneth  the  sences  and  memory,  strengtheneth  the 
sinewes,  restoreth  health  to  those  who  haue  the  palsie 
vpon  a  moist  cause,  takes  away  shaking  or  trembling 
of  the  members;  and  being  put  up  into  the  nostrils, 
it  draweth  thin  flegme  out  of  the  head.  It  is  likewise 
commended  against  the  spitting  of  bloud,  the  cough, 
and  paines  of  the  sides,  and  bitings  of  serpents,"  etc.,  etc. 

Sage  tea  is  still  held  in  much  popular  esteem  in  men- 
strual disorders. 

Sage  has  previously  been  praised  in  the  poem  for 
its  virtues  as  a  prophylactic  against  seasickness, 
vide  p.  91. 

(20)  Rue  or  herb  of  grace  had  a  high  place  in  the 
pharmacopeia  of  the  ancient  physician.     It  wa?  used 
both  locally  and  internally.     It  was  especially  esteemed 
as  a  carminative  and  diuretic. 

(21)  In  Gerarde's  Herbal,  ed.  1636,  page  170,  we  find 
that  onions  "stamped  with  Salt,  Rue,  and  Honey,  and 
so  applied,  they  are  good  against  the  biting  of  a  mad 
Dog." 

•  (22)  Even  the  ancients  found  mustard  of  but  little 
service  in  internal  medicine,  except  as  a  stimulant  of 
the  digestive  tract.  It  was  in  great  vogue,  however, 
as  a  counterirritant.  Gerarde  (Herbal,  ed.  1636)  says, 
"The  seed  of  mustard  beaten  and  put  into  the  nostrils 
causeth  sneezing,  and  raiseth  women  sicke  of  the  Mother 

[187] 


(hysteria)  out  of  their  fits.  It  is  good  in  the  falling  sick- 
nesse,  and  such  as  haue  the  Lethargic,  if  it  belaid  plaister- 
wise  vpon  the  head  (after  haueing  been  tempered  with 
figs).  It  helpeth  the  Sciatics,  or  ache  in  the  hip  or 
hucklebone."  *  *  * 

(23)  In  addition  to  their  usefulness  in  epilepsy  and 
as   a   purgative   in   surfeits,   there  were   many   other 
medicinal  uses  to  which  they  were  applied.     Gerarde's 
Herbal,   ed.    1636,   page   852,   says,   "the   floures   are 
good  for  all  inflammations,  especially  of  the  sides  and 
lungs;  they  take  away  the  hoarseness  of  the  chest, 
the  ruggedness  of  the  winde-pipe  and  jawes,  allay  the 
extreme  heate  of  the  liver,  kidnies,  and  bladder,  miti- 
gate the  fiery  heate  of  burning  agues,  temper  the  sharp- 
nesse  of  choler,  and  take  away  thirst."     *     *     * 

(24)  Gerarde's  Herbal,  ed.  1636,  page  707,  contains 
a  very  glowing  exordium  of  the  virtues  of  nettles. 

"Being  eaten,  as  Dioscorides  saith  boiled  with 
Periwinkles,  it  maketh  the  body  soluble,  doing  it  by 
a  kinde  of  clensing  facultie:  it  also  provoketh  vrine, 
and  expelleth  stones  out  of  the  kidnies:  being  boiled 
with  barly  cream  it  is  thought  to  bring  up  tough 
humors  that  sticke  in  the  chest.  Being  stamped,  and 
the  juice  put  up  into  the  nostrils,  it  stoppeth  the 
bleeding  of  the  nose:  the  juice  is  good  against  the  in- 
flammation of  the  uvula.  *  *  *  It  concocteth  and 
draweth  out  of  the  chest  humors.  It  is  good  for  them 
that  cannot  breathe  vnlesse  they  hold  their  necks 
vpright,  and  for  those  that  haue  the  pleurisie,  and  for 
such  as  be  sick  of  the  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  it 

[188] 


be  taken  in  a  looch  or  licking  medicine,  and  also  against 
the  troublesome  cough  that  children  haue,  called  the 
chin-cough.  Nicander  affirmeth,  that  is  a  remedie  against 
the  venemous  qualitie  of  Hemlocke,  Mushroms  and 
Quicksilver.  And  Apollodorus  saith  that  it  is  a  counter 
poison  for  Henbane,  Serpents  and  Scorpions."  *  *  * 

(25)  Gerarde,  Herbal,  ed.  1636,  page  580. 

"A  decoction  of  Hyssop  made  with  figs,  and  gargled 
in  the  mouth  and  throte,  ripeneth  and  breaketh  the 
tumors  and  imposthumes  of  the  mouth  and  throte, 
and  easeth  the  difficultie  of  swallowing,  comming  by 
cold  rheumes.  The  same  made  with  figges,  water, 
honey,  and  rue,  and  drunken,  helpeth  the  inflamma- 
tion of  the  lungs,  the  old  cough,  and  shortness  of 
breath,  and  the  obstructions  and  stoppings  of  the 
breast." 

(26)  Gerarde,  Herbal,  ed.  1636,  page  991,  writes: 

"The  decoction  of  the  roots  of  Cinke-foile  drunke> 
cureth  the  bloudy  flix,  and  all  other  fluxes  of  the  belly, 
and  stancheth  all  excessiue  bleeding.  The  juyce  of 
the  roots  while  they  be  young  and  tender,  is  given 
to  be  drunke  against  the  diseases  of  the  liuer  and  lungs 
and  all  poyson.  The  same  drunke  in  mede  or  honied 
water,  or  wine  wherein  some  pepper  hath  been  mingled, 
cureth  the  tertain  or  quartain  feuers:  and  being  drunken 
after  the  same  manner  for  thirty  daies  together,  it 
helpeth  the  falling  sicknesse.  *  *  *  The  juyce  of 
the  leaues  drunken  doth  cure  the  jaundice,  and  com- 
forteth  the  stomacke  and  liuer.  The  decoction  of  the 

[189] 


roots  held  in  the  mouth  doth  mitigate  the  paine  of 
the  teeth,  staieth  putrifaction,  and  all  putrified  vlcers 
of  the  mouth,  helpeth  the  inflammations  of  the  almonds, 
throat  and  the  parts  adjoining  *  *  *  and  helpeth 
the  bloudy  flix.  The  root  boyled  in  vinegre  is  good 
against  the  shingles,  appeaseth  the  rage  of  fretting 
sores,  and  cankerous  vlcers." 

(27)  Gerarde,  Herbal,  ed.  1636,  says:     "It  is  good 
for  shortnesse  of  breath,  and  an  old  cough,  and  for 
such  as  cannot  breath  vnlesse  they  hold  their  neckes 
vpright.     It  is  of  great  virtue  both  giuen  in  a  looch, 
which  is  a  medicine  to  be  looked  on,  and  likewise  pre- 
serued,  as  also  otherwise  giuen  to  purge  and  void  out 
thicke,  tough,  and  clammy  humors,  which    sticke    in 
the  chest  and  lungs.     The  root  preserued  is  good  and 
wholesome  for  the  stomacke:   being  taken  after  supper 
it  doth  not  onely  helpe  digestion,  but  also  keepeth  the 
belly  soluble.     *     *     *    The  decoction  of  Enula  (Elle- 
compane)  drunken  prouoketh  vrine,  and  is  good  for 
them  that  are  grieued  with  inward  burstings,  or  haue 
any  member  out  of  joynt."     *     *     * 

(28)  Gerarde,  Herbal,  ed.  1636,  page  672,  says: 

"  Pennie  Royall  boyled  in  wine  and  drunken  prouok- 
eth the  monethly  termes,  bringeth  forth  the  secondine, 
the  dead  childe  and  vnnaturall  birth:  it  prouoketh 
vrine  and  breaketh  the  stone  especially  of  the  kidnies. 
Pennie  Royall  taken  in  honey  clenseth  the  lungs,  and 
cleareth  the  breast  from  all  grosse  and  thicke  humours. 
The  same  taken  with  hony  and  Aloes,  purgeth  by  stoole 

[190] 


malancholy  humours;  helpeth  the  crampe  and  draw- 
ing together  of  sinewes.  The  same  taken  with  water 
and  vinegre  asswageth  the  inordinate  desire  to  vomit, 
and  the  paines  of  the  stomacke.  If  you  haue  when 
you  are  at  the  sea  Penny  Royall  in  great  quantitie  dry, 
and  cast  it  into  corrupt  water,  it  helpeth  it  much, 
neither  will  it  hurt  them  that  drinke  thereof.  A  gar- 
land of  Pennie  Royall  made  and  worne  about  the  head 
is  of  great  force  against  the  swimming  in  the  head,  and 
the  paines  and  giddinesse  thereof.  The  decoction  of 
Penny  Royall  is  very  good  against  ventositie,  windines, 
or  such  like,  &,  against  the  hardnesse  and  stopping  of 
the  mother  being  used  in  a  bath  or  stew  for  the  woman 
to  sit  ouer." 

(29)  Gerarde,  Herbal,  ed.  1636,  enumerates  a  number 
of  varieties  of  cresses,  such  as  water  cress,  winter 
cress,  bank  cress,  garden  cress,  and  sciatica  cress,  and 
attributes  many  virtues  to  them.  Thus  of  winter  cress 
he  writes:  "The  seed  of  Winter  Cresse  causeth  one 
to  make  water,  and  driveth  forth  grauell,  and  helps  the 
strangurie.  The  juyce  thereof  mundfieth  corrupt  and 
filthy  vlcers,  being  made  in  form  of  an  vnguent  with 
wax,  oile,  and  turpentine.  *  *  *  This  herbe  helpeth 
the  scuruy,  being  boiled  among  scuruy  grasse,  called 
in  Latin  Cochlearia,  causing  it  to  work  the  more 
effectually." 

The  garden  cress  is  also  highly  commended  for  scurvy, 
and  "it  scoureth  away  tettas  mixed  with  brine." 

Sciatica  cress  derives  its  name  from  its  supposed 
value  in  that  complaint. 

[191] 


(30)  Gerarde,  Herbal,  ed.   1636,  page  1392,  affirms 
of  the  willow:     "The  leaues  and  barke  of  Withy  or 
Willowes  do  stay  the  spitting  of  bloud,  and  all  other 
fluxes  of  bloud  whatsoever  in  man  or  woman,  if  the 
said  leaues  and  barke  be  boyled  in  wine  and  drunke. 
The  greene  boughes  with  the  leaues  may  very  well  be 
brought  into  chambers  and  set  about  the  beds  of  those 
that  be  sicke  of  feuers,  for  they  doe  mightly  coole  the 
heate  of  the  aire,  which  thing  is  a  wonderfull  refreshing 
to  the  sicke  patients.     The  barke  hath  like  vertues: 
Dioscorides  writeth,  that  this  being  burnt  to  ashes, 
and  steeped  in  vineger,  takes  away  cornes  and  other 
like  risings  in  the  feet  and  toes:    diuers,  saith  Galen, 
doe  slit  the  barke  whilst  the  withey  is  in  flouring  and 
gather  a  certain  juyce  with  which  they  used  to  take 
away  things  that  hinder  the  sight,  and  this  is  when 
they  are  constrained  to  use  a  clensing  medicine  of  thin 
and  subtill  parts." 

(31)  Gerarde,  Herbal,  ed.  1696,  writes  of  saffron: 
"Avicen  affirmeth  that  it  causeth  headache  and  is 

hurtful  to  the  braine,  which  it  cannot  do  by  taking 
it  now  and  then,  but  by  too  much  using  of  it;  for  the 
too  much  using  of  it  cutteth  off  sleep,  for  want  whereof 
the  head  and  sences  are  out  of  frame.  But  the  moderate 
use  thereof  is  good  for  the  head  and  maketh  the  sences 
more  quick  and  liuely,  shaketh  off  heauy  and  drowsie 
sleepe,  and  maketh  a  man  merry.  Also  saffron 
strengtheneth  the  heart,  concocteth  crude  and  raw 
humors  of  the  chest,  opens  the  lungs,  and  removeth 
obstructions.  It  is  also  such  a  special  remedie  for 

[192] 


those  that  haue  consumption  of  the  lungs,  and  are  as 
wee  terme  it,  at  death's  doore,  and  almost  past  breath- 
ing, that  it  bringeth  breath  again,  and  prolongeth  life 
for  certaine  dayes,  if  ten  or  twenty  graines  at  the  most 
be  given  with  a  new  or  sweet  wine."  Saffron  was  also 
much  used  locally  in  affections  of  the  eyes  and  ears. 
The  use  of  the  meadow  saffron,  or  colchicum,  for  gout, 
dates  back  to  antiquity.  The  dangers  of  its  too  free 
use  in  that  complaint  were  well  recognized. 

(32)  Leeks  were  recommended  as  antidotes  against 
the  bites  of  venomous  beasts,  being  used  both  internally 
and  locally.     The  juice  of  the  leek  was  considered  of 
great  value  when  dropped  into  the  external  auditory 
meatus,  in  earache  and  tinnitus  aurium. 

(33)  Gerarde,   Herbal,  ed.    1636,  makes  no  distinc- 
tion as  regards  the  medicinal  properties  of  white  or 
black   pepper.     He  writes:     "Dioscorides   and   others 
agreeing  with  him  affirme,  that  Pepper  resisteth  poyson, 
and  is  good  to  be  put  into  medicaments  for  eies.     All 
Pepper   heateth,  prouoketh    vrin,  digesteth,    draweth, 
disperseth,  and  clenseth  the  dimness  of  the  sight,  as 
Dioscorides  noteth. 

(34)  "Fceniculum,  Rosa,  Verbena,  Chelodonia,  Ruta 
Ex  Us  fit  aqua  qua  lumina  reddit  acute. 

Of  Fennell,  Roses,  Vervain,  Rue  and  Celandine 
Is  made  a  water  good  to  cleere  the  sight  of  eine." 

(See  Gerarde's  Herbal,  ed.  1636,  page  1032.) 

(35)  Guerini,  "History  of  Dentistry,"  1909,  ascribes 
the  origin  of  the  legend  that  dental  caries  is  due  to 

[193] 


worms  in  the  teeth  to  the  following  passage  in  Scrib- 
onius  Largus: 

"Suitable  also  against  toothache  are  fumigations 
made  with  the  seeds  of  the  hyoscyamus  scattered  on 
burning  charcoal;  these  must  be  followed  by  rinsings 
of  the  mouth  with  hot  water;  in  this  way  sometimes, 
as  it  were,  small  worms  are  expelled." 

He  adds:  "This  passage  of  Scribonius  Largus  has 
given  rise  to  the  idea  that  dental  caries  depends  upon 
the  presence  of  small  worms,  which  eat  away  the 
substance  of  the  tooth.  Such  an  explanation  must 
have  well  succeeded  in  satisfying  the  popular  fancy; 
and  it  is  for  this  that  such  a  prejudice,  although  fought 
against  by  Jacques  Houllier  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
has  continued  even  to  our  days." 

Lastly  he  tells  from  his  own  knowledge  the  following 
story  which  shows  a  modern  Italian  charlatan  doing 
very  much  what  was  taught  in  the  Regimen: 

"With  regard  to  this  I  would  like  to  record  the  fol- 
lowing fact :  Not  many  years  ago  there  lived  in  Aversa, 
a  small  town  near  Naples,  Italy,  a  certain  Don  Angelo 
Fontenella,  a  violin  player,  who  professed  himself  to 
be  the  possessor  of  an  infallible  remedy  against  tooth- 
ache. When  summoned  by  the  sufferer,  he  carried 
with  him,  in  a  bundle,  a  tile,  a  large  iron  plate,  a  funnel, 
a  small  curved  tube  adjustable  to  the  apex  of  the  funnel, 
a  piece  of  bees'  wax,  and  a  small  packet  of  onion  seed. 
Having  placed  the  tile  on  a  table,  the  iron  plate  was 
put  upon  it,  after  it  had  been  heated  red  hot.  Then 
the  operator  let  a  piece  of  bees'  wax  fall  upon  the 

[194] 


red-hot  iron,  together  with  a  certain  quantity  of  onion 
seed;  then,  having  promptly  covered  the  whole  with  the 
funnel  and  made  the  patient  approach,  he  brought  the 
apex  of  the  said  funnel  close  to  the  sick  tooth,  in  such 
a  way  as  to  cause  the  prodigious,  if  somewhat  stinking, 
fumes  produced  by  the  combustion  of  the  wax  with 
the  onion  seed  to  act  upon  it.  In  the  case  of  a  lower 
tooth,  the  above  mentioned  curved  tube  was  adopted 
to  the  funnel,  so  that  the  fumes  might  easily  reach 
the  tooth.  The  remedy,  for  the  most  part,  had  a 
favorable  result,  whether  because  the  beneficial  effect 
was  due  to  the  action  of  the  hot  vapor  on  the  diseased 
tooth,  or  to  the  active  principles  resulting  from  the 
combustion  of  the  wax  and  onion  seed,  or  to  both, 
or  perhaps  also,  at  least  in  certain  cases,  to  the  sug- 
gestion that  was  thus  brought  to  bear  upon  the  sufferer. 
It  would  not  be  at  all  worth  while  to  discuss  here  such 
a  point.  The  interesting  point  is  that  when  the  patient 
had  declared  that  he  no  longer  felt  pain,  Don  Angelo, 
with  a  self-satisfied  smile,  turned  the  funnel  upside 
down,  and  showed  on  its  internal  surface  a  quantity 
of  what  he  pretended  to  be  worms,  which  he  affirmed 
had  come  out  of  the  carious  tooth.  Great  was  the 
astonishment  of  the  patient  and  of  the  bystanders, 
none  of  whom  raised  the  least  doubt  as  to  the  nature 
and  origin  of  these  small  bodies,  no  one  having  the 
faintest  suspicion  even  that  these,  instead  of  coming 
from  the  tooth,  might  come  from  the  onion  seed." 

(36)  Tents  were  formerly  much  used  in  surgery  to 
keep  wounds  open  in  order  that  they  might  heal  from 

[I95l 


the  bottom  outwards.  Many  substances  were  used  for 
the  purpose,  especially  lint  or  other  fabrics  soaked  in 
balsmic  oils. 

(37)  Flix.     Gleet,    a    chronic    discharge    from    the 
urethra. 

(38)  Gray's  Anatomy,  ed.   1887,  gives  the  number 
of  bones  in  the  adult  skeleton  as  follows: 

The  spine  or  vertebral  column   (sacrum 

and  coccyx  included) 26 

Cranium 8 

Face 14 

Os  hyoides,  sternum,  and  ribs 26 

Upper  extremities 64 

Lower  extremities 62 

200 

"In  this  enumeration  the  patellae  are  included  as 
separate  bones,  but  the  smaller  sesamoid  bones  and 
the  ossicula  auditus  are  not  reckoned.  The  teeth 
belong  to  the  tegumentary  system." 

Any  attempt  at  an  accurate  enumeration  of  the  veins 
is  impossible.  It  must  be  remembered  that  at  the 
epoch  when  the  Regimen  was  composed,  injections  of 
the  bloodvessels  were  not  practised. 

In  ancient  East  Indian  medicine  the  following 
classification  of  the  human  body  was  made.  It  con- 
sists "of  six  members  (the  four  extremities,  the  trunk, 
and  the  head),  and  has  7  membranes,  7  segments,  70 
vessels,  500  muscles,  900  sinews,  300  bones,  212  joints, 

[196] 


but  only  24  nerves,  and  9  organs  of  sense,  etc.  The 
vessels  contain  not  only  blood,  but  they  carry  also 
bile,  mucus,  and  air  about  through  the  body.  Of  the 
nerves,  which  take  their  origin  from  the  navel,  10 
ascend,  10  descend,  and  4  run  transversely,  as  soon  as 
the  10  ascending  nerves  reach  the  heart,  however, 
they  divide  into  30."  (Baas,  "History  of  Medicine," 
Handerson's  translation,  page  49.) 

(39)  Garrison's  "Introduction  to  the  History  of 
Medicine"  contains  several  figures  reproduced  by  per- 
mission of  Sudhoff  of  so-called  bloodletting  men 
(Aderlassman),  illustrating  the  planetary  influences 
on  the  human  body  as  regarded  the  proper  times  and 
places  for  bloodletting.  These  figures,  printed  as 
calendars,  were  among  the  earliest  productions  of  the 
printers'  art.  The  belief  in  the  astrological  relation 
between  bloodletting  and  the  heavenly  bodies  continued 
into  the  seventeenth  century.  Bleeding  was  regarded 
as  a  very  solemn  function  until  but  a  few  hundred 
years  ago.  Hippocrates  and  the  ancient  Greeks  and 
Latins  employed  it  frequently.  Under  the  influence 
of  the  Arabian  School  the  so-called  "derivative" 
method  of  bloodletting  came  into  vogue.  This  con- 
sisted in  drawing  blood  from  the  opposite  side  of  the 
body  from  the  affected  part.  Early  in  the  sixteenth 
century  Pierre  Brissot,  a  physician  of  Paris,  proclaimed 
the  fallacy  of  the  Arabian  view  and  after  a  fierce  battle 
lasting  over  a  period  of  years  the  medical  profession 
finally  returned  to  the  standard  of  Hippocrates,  and 
bled  once  more  from  the  diseased  side.  Pare  gives  the 

[197] 


following  exposition  of  the  reasons  for  letting  blood. 
I  take  it  literally  from  Johnson's  translation  of  his 
works,  edition  of  1678,  page  411: 

"Phlebotomy  is  the  opening  of  a  vein,  evacuating 
the  blood  with  the  rest  of  the  humors;  thus  Arterotomy, 
is  the  opening  of  an  artery.  The  first  scope  of  Phle- 
botomy is  the  evacuation  of  the  blood  offending  in 
quantity,  although  oft-times  the  Physician's  intention 
is  to  draw  forth  the  blood  which  offends  in  quality,  or 
other  way  by  opening  a  vein.  Repletion,  which  is 
caused  by  the  quantity,  is  two-fold;  the  one  ad  vires, 
that  is,  to  the  strength,  the  veins  being  otherwise  not 
very  much  swelled:  This  makes  men  infirm  and  weak, 
Nature  not  able  to  bear  his  humor,  of  what  kind  soever 
it  be.  The  other  is  termed  ad  vasa,  that  is,  to  the 
vessels,  the  which  is  so  called  comparatively  to  the 
plenty  of  blood,  although  the  strength  may  very  well 
away  therewith.  The  vessels  are  oft-times  broke  by 
this  kind  of  repletion,  so  that  the  Patient  casts  and 
spits  up  blood,  or  else  evacuates  it  by  the  nose,  womb, 
hemorrhoids,  or  varices.  The  repletion  which  is  ad 
vires,  is  known  by  the  heaviness  and  wearisomeness  of 
the  whole  body;  but  that  which  is  ad  vasa,  is  perceived 
by  their  distension  and  fulness,  both  of  them  stand  in 
need  of  evacuation.  But  blood  is  only  to  be  let  by 
opening  a  vein,  for  five  respects:  The  first  is  to  lessen 
the  abundance  of  blood,  as  in  plethorick  bodies,  and 
those  who  are  troubled  with  inflammation  without 
any  plenitude.  The  second  is  for  diversion  or  revulsion, 
as  when  a  vein  of  the  right  is  opened  to  stay  the  bleed- 
ing of  the  left  nostril.  The  third  is  to  allure  or  draw 
[198] 


down;  as  when  the  saphena  is  opened  in  the  ankle,  to 
draw  down  the  courses  in  women.  The  fourth  is  for 
alteration  or  introduction  of  another  quality;  as  when 
in  sharp  feavers  we  open  a  vein  to  breathe  out  that  blood 
which  is  heated  in  the  vessels,  and  cooling  the  residue 
which  remains  behind.  The  fifth  is  to  prevent  immi- 
nent diseases;  as  when  in  the  Spring  and  Autumn  we 
draw  blood  by  opening  a  vein  in  such  as  are  subject 
to  spitting  of  blood,  the  Squinancy,  Plurisie,  Falling- 
sickness,  Apoplexy,  Madness,  Gout,  or  in  such  as  are 
wounded,  for  to  prevent  the  inflammation  which  is  to  be 
feared.  Before  blood-letting,  if  there  be  any  old 
excrements  in  the  guts,  they  shall  be  evacuated  by  a 
gentle  Clyster  or  suppository,  lest  the  mesaraick  veins 
should  thence  draw  unto  them  any  impurity.  Blood 
must  not  be  drawn  from  ancient  people,  unless  some 
present  necessity  require  it,  lest  the  native  heat, 
which  is  but  languid  in  them,  should  be  brought  to 
extreme  debility,  and  their  substance  decay;  neither 
must  any  in  like  sort  be  taken  from  children,  for  fear 
of  resolving  their  powers  by  reason  of  the  tenderness 
of  their  substance,  and  rareness  of  their  habit.  The 
quantity  of  blood  which  is  to  be  let,  must  be  consid- 
ered by  the  strength  of  the  Patient  and  greatness  of 
the  disease:  Therefore,  if  the  Patient  be  weak,  and 
the  disease  require  large  evacuation,  it  will  be  con- 
venient to  part  the  letting  of  blood,  yea  by  the  in- 
terposition of  some  days.  The  vein  of  the  forehead 
being  opened  is  good  for  the  pain  of  the  hind-part  of 
the  head,  yet  first  we  foment  the  part  with  warm  water, 
that  so  the  skin  may  be  softer,  and  the  blood  drawn 
[199] 


into  the  veins  in  greater  plenty.  In  the  Squinancy, 
the  veins  which  are  under  the  tongue  must  be  opened 
aslant,  without  putting  any  ligatures  about  the  neck, 
for  fear  of  strangling.  Phlebotomy  is  necessary  in  all 
diseases  which  stop  or  hinder  breathing,  or  take  away 
the  voice  of  speech;  as  likewise  in  all  constitutions  by 
a  heavy  stroke,  or  fall  from  high,  in  an  Apoplexy, 
Squinancy,  and  Burning-feaver,  though  the  strength 
be  not  great,  nor  the  blood  faulty  in  quantity  or  quality, 
blood  must  not  be  let  in  the  height  of  a  Feaver.  Most 
judge  it  fit  to  draw  blood  from  the  veins  most  remote 
from  the  affected  and  inflamed  part,  for  that  thus  the 
course  of  the  humors  may  be  diverted,  the  next  veins 
on  the  contrary  being  opened,  the  humors  may  be  the 
more  drawn  into  the  affected  part,  and  so  increase 
the  burthen  and  pain.  But  this  opinion  of  theirs  is 
very  erroneous,  for  an  open  vein  always  evacuates  and 
burthens  the  next  part.  For  I  have  sundry  times 
opened  the  veins  and  arteries  of  the  affected  part,  as 
of  the  hands  and  feet  in  the  Gout  of  their  parts;  of 
the  temples  in  the  Megrim;  whereupon  the  pain  always 
was  somewhat  asswaged,  for  that  together  with  the 
evacuated  blood,  the  malignity  of  the  Gout,  and  the 
hot  spirits  (the  causes  of  the  Head-ach  or  Megrim) 
were  evacuated.  For  thus  Galen  wisheth  to  open  the 
arteries  of  the  temples  in  a  great  and  contumacious 
defluxion  falling  upon  the  eyes,  or  in  the  Megrim  or 
Head-ach." 

Heister  (English  translation  of  his  "General  System 
of  Surgery,"  London,  1757)  says,  "A  good  phleboto- 
mist  should  have  a  steady,  nimble  and  active  Hand, 

[200] 


with  a  sharp  Eye  and  undaunted  Mind;  without  which 
he  may  be  either  liable  to  miss  the  Vein,  or  commit 
some  Accident  that  may  be  injurious  or  fatal  to  the 
Patient  and  his  own  Character.  For  these  Reasons 
it  is  that  Venesection  is  less  readily  practiced  by  the 
Surgeon  as  he  advances  in  Years:  because  old  Age  is 
generally  accompanied  with  a  weak  Eye  and  a  trem- 
bling Hand." 

Heister  gives  the  following  directions  for  preparation 
for  the  operation: 

"Preparatory  to  Bleeding  you  should  have  in  Read- 
iness, (i)  a  Linen  Fillet,  about  a  Paris  Ell  in  Length, 
and  two  Fingers  in  Breadth,  with  or  without  small 
Strings  fastened  at  each  End  of  it.  (2)  Two  small 
square  Bolsters.  (3)  Porringers  or  Vessels  to  receive 
the  Blood.  (4)  A  Sponge  with  warm  Water.  (5)  Some 
Vinegar  Wine,  or  Hungary  Water,  to  raise  the  Patient's 
Spirits  if  he  should  be  inclinable  to  faint.  (6)  Two 
Assistants,  who  must  be  void  of  Fear,  one  to  hold  the 
Porringer,  the  other  to  reach  you  anything  that  you 
shall  want.  (7)  A  small  Wax  Candle,  when  the 
Patient  is  to  be  blooded  at  Night,  or  in  a  dark  Place. 
(8)  You  must  place  your  Patient  upon  a  Couch;  or, 
if  he  is  very  fearful  of  the  Operation,  lay  him  upon 
a  Bed,  lest  he  should  fall  into  a  Swoon.  (9)  Lastly, 
you  should  take  Care  that  no  1  rair,  or  the  Cloaths  of 
the  Patient  lie  in  your  Way.  The  Patient  himself 
should  take  Care  that  nothing  should  give  him  any 
Concern:  And  he  should  avoid  terrifying  himself  with 
recollecting  the  Mischiefs  which  have  happened  by 
the  unskilful  Performance  of  this  Operation.  Lastly, 
[201] 


the  Operator  should  be  as  expert  in  bleeding  with  his 
left  Hand  as  with  his  right.  For,  as  you  are  readier 
at  bleeding  in  the  right  Arm  with  your  right  Hand, 
so  when  you  are  to  open  the  Veins  of  the  left  Arm, 
you  will  find  it  necessary  to  use  your  left  Hand:  And 
there  are  some  Patients  who  insist  upon  being  blooded 

in  the  left  Arm." 

1 

(40)  This  was  a  small  vein  situated  on  the  back  of  the 
hand,  between  the  ring  and  little  finger,  known  as  the 
salvatella  vein,  a  branch  of  the  cubital.  In  the  days 
of  cheiromancy  it  was  believed  to  have  an  intimate 
relation  on  the  right  side  with  the  liver,  the  right  kid- 
ney, and  the  right  lung;  on  the  left  side  with  the 
spleen,  the  left  kidney  and  the  left  lung. 


NOTES  ON  THE  LATIN  TEXT 

(1)  Ordronaux  has  "scribit"  instead  of  "scripsit." 

(2)  After  "minute"  Ordronaux  inserts: 

"Fons — Speculum — Gramen,   haec    dant    oculis   re- 

levanem, 
Mane  igitur  montes,  sub  serum  inquirito  fontes." 

Arnold  of  Villa  Nova. 

(3)  "Spasmus,hydrops,  colica,  vertigo,  hoc  res  probat 
ipsa."  Ordronaux. 

(4)  "Tu  numquam  comedas  stomachum  nisi  noveris 

esse 
Purgatum,    vacuumque    cibo,    quern,    sumpseris 

ante 

Ex  desiderio  id  poteris  cognescere  corto; 
Haec  sint  signa  tibi,  subtilis  in  ore  saliva." 

Ordronaux. 

(5)  Ordronaux  inserts  a  line: 

"Corpora  plus  augent  tibi  dulcia,  Candida  vina 
Alii  sic, 

(6)  "Haec  sunt  antidotum,  contra  lethale  venenum^ 

(7)  "Vinum  sit  clarum,  vetus,  subtile,  maturum." 

Ordronaux. 

(8)  "Ac  bene  dilutum,  saliens,  moderamine  sump- 

turn."  Ordronaux. 

[203] 


(9)  Between  this  line  and  the  next  Ordronaux  has 
the  following  lines: 

"Grasses  humores  nutrit  cerevisia,  vires 
Praestat,  augmentat  carnem,  generatque  cruorem 
Provocat  urinam,  ventrem  quoque  mollit  et  inflat. 
Infrigidat  modicum;  sed  plus  desiccat  acetum, 
Infrigidat,     macerat,     melancholiam     dat,     sperma 

minorat, 
Siccos  infestat  nervos,  et  impinguia  siccat.'" 

(10)  "Adde  rosa  florem,  minuitqne  potenter  amorem 
Nausea    non    poterit    haec   quemquam  vexare, 

marinam 

Undam  cum  vino,  mixtam  qui  sumpserit  ante 
Salvia,  sal,  vinum,  piper,  allium,  petroselinum." 

Ordronaux. 

(n)  In  Ordronaux's  version  this  line  is  transposed  so 
that  it  follows  the  next  two,  thus: 

"Lotio  post  mensam  tibi  confert  munera  bina 
Mundificat  palmas  et  lumina  reddit  acuta 
Si  fore  vis  sanus,  ablue  saepe  manus." 

(12)  "Ilia  bona  sunt  porcorum,  mala  sunt  reliquorum 
Provocat  urinam  mustum,  solvit  cito  ventrem." 

Ordronaux. 

(13)  Between    the    foregoing    lines    the    following, 
accredited    to   Arnold   of  Villa   Nova,    are   given   by 
Ordronaux: 

"Vina  bibant  homines,  animantia  coetera  fontes 
Absit  ab  hurnano  pectore  potus  aquae." 

[204] 


(14)  "Quiscula,  vel  merula,  phasianus,  ortygometra." 

Ordronaux. 

(15)  "Si  pisces  sunt  molles,  magno  corpora  tolles." 

Ordronaux. 

(16)  These  lines  do  not  occur  in  the  text  given  by 
Professor  Ordronaux. 

(17)  Between  this  and  the  next  line  the  following  is 
found  in  the  Ordronaux: 

"Inter  prandendum  sit  saepe  parumque  bibendum." 

(18)  "Pisum  laudandum  decrivimus  ac  reprobandum 
Est  inflativum  cum  pellibus  atque  nocivum 
Pellibus  ablatis  sunt  bona  pisa  satis. 

(19)  "Lac   phthisicis   sanum   caprinum   post   came- 

linum."  Ordronaux. 

(20)  "Caseus  est  frigidus,  stipans,  crassus,  quoque 

durus 

Caseus  et  panis,  sunt  optima  fercula  sanis." 

Ordronaux. 

(21)  Between  lines  106  and  107  the  Ordronaux  text 
has  the  following: 

"Expertis  reor  esse  rarum,  quia  commoditate." 

(22)  Between  lines  107  and  108  Ordronaux  has: 
"Caseus  ante  cibum  confert,  si  defluat  alvus." 

(23)  "Si  constipetur  terminat  ille  dapes." 

Ordronaux. 

[205] 


(24)  "Post  pisces  nux  sit,  post  carnes  caseus  adsit. 
Unica  nux  prodest,  nocet  latera,  tertia  mors  est 
Singula  post  ova,  pocula  sume  nova." 

Ordronaux. 

(25)  "Si    coquis    antidotum    pyra    sunt    sed    cruda 

venenum."  Ordronaux. 

(26)  "Post    pyra    da    potum,    post    pomum    vade 

cacatum."  Ordronaux. 

(27)  "Expurgat    stomachum    nucleus    lapidem    tibi 

toilet."  Ordronaux. 

(28)  "Infrigidant,     laxant,     multum     prosunt     tibi 

prunae."  Ordronaux. 

(29)  "Srofa,     tumor,     glandes,     ficus     cataplasmati 

cedunt."  Ordronaux. 

(30)  "Pediculos,    venerem    que    facit,    sed    cuilibet 

obstat." 

Addition  by  Arnold  of  Villa  Nova,  Ordronaux. 

(31)  "Mespila  dura  bona,  sed  mollia  sunt  meliora." 

Ordronaux. 

(32)  After  line  143  Ordronaux  has  the  following  lines, 
which  he  states  are  an  addition  by  Arnold  of  Villa 
Nova: 

"Radix  rapa  bona  est,  comedenti  dat  tria  dona; 
Visum  clarificat,  ventrem  mollit,  bene  bombit. 
Ventum  saepe  rapis,  si  tu  vis  vivere  rapis." 

(33)  "Semen  foeniculi  pellit  spiracula  culi." 

Ordronaux. 

[206] 


Immediately  following  line  149,  Ordronaux  has  the 
following  two  lines,  an  addition  by  Arnold  of  Villa 
Nova: 

"Bis  duo  dat  marathrum,  febres  fugat  atque  ven 
enum, 

Et  purgat  stomachum,  lumen  quoque  reddit  acutum.', 

(34)  "Copia  dulcoris  aniso  fit  melioris." 

Ordronaux. 

(35)  Immediately   between   this   line   and   the   next 
Ordronaux  gives  the  following  addition  by  Arnold  of 
Villa  Nova: 

"Guadet  hepar  spodio,  mace  cor  cerebrum  quo  que 

moscho; 
Fulmo     liquirita,     splen     capparis,     stomachumque 

galanga." 

(36)  Between  lines  157  and  158  Ordronaux's  version 
has  two  lines  of  Arnold  of  Villa  Nova: 

"Sal  primo  poni  debet,  primoque  reponi 
Non  bene  mensa  tibi  ponitur  absque  sale." 

(37)  "Hie  fervore  viget  tres,  salsus,  amarus,  acutus:" 

Ordronaux. 

(38)  In  Ordronaux's  version  there  is  an  additional 
line  between  lines  169  and  170: 

"Ne  mala  conveniens  ingrediatur  iter." 

(39)  "Malvae  radices  rasas  deducere  faeces." 

Ordronaux. 

[207] 


(40)  "Contra  vim  mortis,  non  tails  medicainen  in 

hortis."  Ordronaux. 

Ordronaux  states  that  he  has  substituted  talis  in  this 
line  instead  of  esty  as  the  original  has  it.  He  points 
out  that  est  plainly  contradicts  the  preceding  line,  and 
has  substituted  talis,  as  better  illustrating  the  general 
high  character  of  the  plant,  of  whose  virtues  the  sub- 
sequent lines  serve  to  give  a  more  detailed  exposition. 

(41)  "Salvia  confortat  nervos,  manumque  tremorem" 

Ordronaux. 

(42)  "Nasturtium,    athanasia,    haec    sanant    para- 
lytica  membra."  Ordronaux. 

(43)  "Auxilio  rutae,  vir  lippe  videbis  acute 

Ruta  viris  minuit  Venerem,  mulieribus  addit." 

Ordronaux. 

(44)  "Saepe    fricans,    capitis    poteris    reparare    de- 

corem."  Ordronaux. 

(45)  Ordronaux  inserts  the  two  following  lines  by 
Arnold  of  Villa  Nova: 

"Appositas  perhibent  morsus  curare  caninos, 
Si  trita  cum  melle  prius  fuerint  at  aceto." 

(46)  "Aegris  dat  somnum,  vomitum  quoque  tollit  et 

usum, 

Illius  semen  colicis  cum  melle  medetur. 
Et  tussim  veterem  curat,  si  saepe  bibatur. 
Frigus  pulmonis  pellit,  ventrisque  tumorem." 

Ordronaux. 

[208] 


(47)  "Oppositum  cancris  tritum  cum  melle  medetur 
Cum  vino  potum  laeteris  sedare  dolorem 

Saepe  solet,  tritam  si  nectis  desuper  herbam." 

Ordronaux. 

(48)  "Cum  succo  rutae  succus  si  sumitur  hujus." 

Ordronaux. 

(49)  "Appositam  veterem  dicunt  sedare  podagram." 

Ordronaux. 

(50)  "Illius  succus  crines  retinere  flueutes 
Illitus  asseritur,  dentesque  levare  dolorem." 

Ordronaux. 

(51)  "Hujus  flos,  sumptus  in  aqua,  frigescere  cogit 
Instinctus  Veneris,  cunctos  acres  stimulantes 
Et  sic  desicat,  ut  nulla  creatio  fiat. 
Confortare  crocum  dixerunt  exhilarando 
Membra  defecta  confortat  hepar  reparando. 
Reddit  fbecundas  mansum  per  saepe  puellas; 
Ills  stillantem  poteris  retinere  cruorem, 
Ungis  si  nares  intus  medicamine  tali." 

Ordronaux. 

(52)  "Phlegmata  purgabit,  concoctricemque  juvabit'' 

Ordronaux. 

(53)  After  this  line  (238)  Ordronaux  has: 
"Subveninut  oculis  dira  caligne  pressis, 

Nam  ex  istis  fit  aqua,  quae  lumina  reddit  acuta." 

(54)  "Cum  hyoscyamo  ure  adjunct©  simul  quoque 

thure. 

Sic  per  embotum  fumum  cape  dente  remotum.' 

Ordronaux. 

[209] 


(55)  Between  lines  253  and  254  the  Ordronaux  con- 
tains the  following: 

"Si  capitis  dolor  est  ex  potu,  lympha  bibatur. 
Ex  potu  nimio  nam  febris  acuta  creatur 
Si  vertex  capitis  vel  frons  aestu  tribulentur 
Tempora  fronsque  simul  moderate  saepe  frieentur; 
Morella  cocta  nee  non  calidaque  laventur; 
Istud  enim  credunt  capitis  prodesse  dolori. 
Temporis  aestivi  jejunia  corpora  siccant, 
Quolibet  in  mense,  et  confort  vomitus  quoque  purgat 
Humores  nocuos,  stomachi  lavat  ambitus  omnes. 
Ver,  Autumnus,  Hyems,  Aetas,  dominatur  in  anno; 
Tempore  vernali  calidus  fit  aer,  humidusque, 
Et  nullum  tempus  melius  fit  phlebotomise. 
Usus  tune  homini  Veneris  confert  moderatus. 
Corporis  et  motus,  ventrisque  solutio,  sudor, 
Balnea,  purgentur  tune  corpora  cum  medicinis. 
Aetas  more  calet  sicca,  et  noscatur  in  ilia 
Tune  quoque  praecipue  choleram  rubram  dominare. 
Humida,  frigida  fercula  dentur,  sit  Venus  extra, 
Balena  non  prosunt,  sint  rarae  phlebotomise 
Utilis  est  requies,  sit  cum  moderamine  potus." 
In  the  Latin  version  used  by  Croke  these  lines  form 
the  concluding  stanzas: 

(56)  "Et  ter  centenis  decies  sex  quinque  venis." 

Ordronaux. 

(57)  "Terra  melancholias,  aqua  confertur  pituita. 
Aer  sanguineis,  ignea  vis  choleras." 

Immediately  after  the  above  lines  Ordronaux  has  the 
following  addition  by  Arnold  of  Villa  Nova: 

[210] 


"Humidus  est  sanguis,  calet,  est  vis  seris  illi — 
Alget  phlegmia,  humetque  illi  sic  copia  aquosa  est. 
Sicca  calet  cholera,  et  igni  fit  similata, 
Frigens  sicca  melancholia  est,  terras  adsimilata." 

(58)  "Phlegma     viros     modicos     tribuit,     latosque' 

brevesque."  Ordronaux. 

(59)  "Otio  non  studio  tradunt,  sed  corpora  somno." 

Ordronaux. 

(60)  "Restat  adhuc  cholera;  virtutes  dicere  nigrae 
Qua  reddit  tristes,  pravos,  perpauca  loquentes." 

Ordronaux, 

(61)  After  this  line  Ordronaux  has  the  following  ad- 
dition by  Arnold  of  Villa  Nova: 

"Corporibus  fuscum  bilis  dat  nigra  colorem; 
Esse  solent  fusci  quos  bilis  possidet  atra. 
Istorum  duo  sunt  tenues,  alii  duo  pingues, 
Hi  morbos  caveant  consumptos,  hique  repletos." 

(62)  Following  this  line  Ordronaux's  version  contains 
the  following  which  is  interesting  as  an  exposition  of 
symptoms  indicative  respectively  of  excess  of  bile,  of 
phlegm,  and  of  black  bile: 

"Accusat  choleram  dextrae  dolor,  aspera  lingua, 
Tinnitus,  vomitusque  frequens,  vigilantia  multa, 
Multa  sitis,  inguisque  egestio  tormina  ventris, 
Nausea  fit  morsus  cordis,  languescit  onexia 
Pulsus  adest  gracilis,  durus,  veloxque  calescens — 
Aret,  amarescitque,  incendia  somnia  fingit. 
Phlegrna  supergrediens  proprias  in  corpore  leges, 

[211] 


Os  facit  msipidum,  fastidia  crebra,  salivas, 
Costarum,  stomachi,  simul  occipitisque  dolores, 
Pulsus  adest  rarus,  tardus,  mollis,  quoque  inanis. 
Praecedit  fallax  phantasmata  somnus  aquosa. 
Humorum  pleno  dum  faex  in  corpora  regnat, 
Nigra  cutis,  durus  pulsus,  tenuisque  urina, 
Sollicitudo,  timor,  tristitia,  somnia  tetra; 
Acesunt  ructus,  sapor,  et  sputaminis  idem. 
Levaque  praecipue  tinnit  vel  sibilat  auris." 

(63)  Ordronaux  has  this: 

"Balnea  post,  coitum,  minor  aetas  atque  senilis." 

(64)  "Morbus  prolixus,  repletio  potus  et  escae." 

Ordronaux. 

(65)  "Quid  debes  facere  quando  vis  phlebotomari." 

Ordronaux. 

(66)  "Unctio  sive  lavacrum,  potus,  vel  fascia,  motus." 

Ordronaux. 

(67)  "Ver,    aestas,     dextras;     autumnus,    hyemsque 

sinistras. 

Quatuor  haec  membra,   hepar,   pes,  cepha,  cor, 
vacuanda."  Ordronaux. 

(68)  "Ex  salvatella  tibi  plurima  dona  minuta." 

Ordronaux. 

(69)  In  the  version  of  Professor  Ordronaux  the  lines 
which  follow  line  344  in  Croke's  are  to  be  found  follow- 
ing line  253. 


[212] 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS 


Ague,  97,  122 
Ale,  102 
Arsenic,  126 

Bathing,  75 
Beer,  90 
Bleeding 

care  after,  154 

instructions  for,  146,  148 

rule  on,  149,  156 

salvatella  vein  in,  156 
Blows  and  falls,  123 
Bones,  131 
Bread, 

crusty,  92 
fine,  82 
sops,  108 
Bronchus,  77 
Broth,  81 
Brimstone,  126 

Catarrh,  77 

Cheerfulness  as  an  aid  to  cure,  75 
Choleric,  115,  132,  136,  144 
Claudius,  Emperor 

proclamation  of,  79,  103 
Coitus,  130,  150 
Colic,  117 
Constipation,  75 
Consumption,  96 
Cramps,  79 

Diet,  109 
Diseases, 

Ague,  97,  122 

Colic,  117 

Constipation,  75 

Consumption,  916 

Cramps,  79 

Dropsy,  79 

Epilepsy,  117 

Fever,  127 


Diseases, 

Fistula,  126 

Gout,  117,  119 

Headache,  79,  127,  145 

Palsy,  112,  113 

Phthisis,  77 

Rheum,  77,  126 

Rheumatism,  77 

Seasickness,  91 

Scab,  107 

Toothache,    frankincense    for, 

125 
Drinking 

beer,  90 

often,  at  dinner,  99 

water,  93 

wine,  99 
Dropsy,  79 

Dwelling,    ventilation    and    sur- 
roundings of,  87 

Embotum  (funnel),  125 
Epilepsy,  117 
Exercise  after  dinner,  76 
bodily,  126 

Falls,  blows  and,  123 

Fasting,  128 

Fever,  127 

Fecation  after  apples,  too 

Fistula,  126 

Flatulence,  79,  104 

Food,  six  things  to  be  observed 

1 10 


From  Animals 
Brains,  82,  104 
Butter,  97 
Cheese,  95,  97,  98 
Eggs,  8 1 
Heart,  104 
Honey,  117,  118,  120 


[213 


Foods, 

Lights,  104 
Marrow,  82 
From  Animals 
Milk,  97 

Oil,  125,  153 

Testicles,  82 

Tripe,  92,  104 
Meat 

Beef,  80 

Goat,  80 

Hare,  80 

Mutton,  92 

Pork,  82,  92 

Salt  meats,  80,  107 

Veal,  94 

Venison,  80 
Birds 

Capons,  94 

Chicken,  94 

Dove,  94 

Duck,  94 

Hens,  94 

Lark,  94 

Moorhen,  94 

Partridge,  94 

Pheasant,  94 

Plover,  94 

Quail,  94 

Rail,  94 

Swan,  94 

Thrush,  94 

Woodcock,  94 
Fish 

Bass,  95 

Bream,  95 

Eels  95,  125 

Mullet,  95 

Perch,  95 

P,ke,  95 

Sole,  95 

1  rout,  95 
Fruit 

Apples,  80,  125 
Cherries,  100 
Figs,  82 


Foods, 
rruit 

cataplasm  of,  107 
Medlars,  102 
Peaches,  80,  101 
Pears,  80,  86,  100 
Plums,  101 
Raisins,  82,  101 
Nuts,  99,  101,  125 
Vegetables 

Anise,  105 

Beans,  124 

Cabbage,  no 

Capers,  106 

Cinquefoil,  118 

Elecampane,  119 

Fennel,  104,  105 

Galangal,  106 

Garlick,  86,  91 

Henbane,  125 

Hyssop,  113,  n8 

Lavender,  113 

Leek,  122 

Lentils,  124 

Licorice,  106 

Mace,  106 

Mallow,  in 

Mint,  in 

Musk,  106 

Mustard,  116 

Nettle,  117 

Onion,  114,  115 

Parsley,  91 

Pea,  96 

Pennyroyal,  119 

Pepper,  91,  122 

P°ppy> 101 

Primrose,  113 
Radish,  86 
Rape,  86 
Rose,  91,  124 
Rue,  86,91,  113,  114 
Saffron,  121 
Sage,  91,  112 
Turnip,  103 
Vervain,  124 


Foods, 

Prophylatic  Measures, 

Vegetables 

Avoid  repletion,  126 

Violet,  117 

Avoidance  of  sleep  at  midday, 

Wallflower,  113 

77 

Water  cress,  120 

Bathing,  75 

Willow,  121 

Bodily  cleanliness,  75,  76,  84, 

Frankincense  for  toothache,  125 

12$ 

Elimination  of  flatulence,  79, 

Gout,  117,  119 

104 

Hair,  onion  juice  for  the,  115 
Headache,  79,  127,  145 

Exercise,  after  dinner,  76 
bodily,  126 
Fasting,  128 

Hearing,  123 
Heart,  156 
Hoarseness,  95,  125 
Honey,  117,  118,  120 
Humors,  132 

Fecation  after  apples,  100 
Onion  juice  for  the  hair,  115 
Purging,  100,  146 
Six  things  to  be  observed  in 
foods,  no 

Lime,  126 

Purging,  ioo,  146 

Liver,  156 
Liquors 

Repletion,  avoid,  126 
Rheum,  77,  126 

Ale,  102 

Rheumatism,  77 

Beer,  90 

Gascon  y,  81 
Red  wine,  84 
White  wine,  84 

Salt,  91,  107 
Sauces,  91,  107 
Sanguine  man,  the,  132,  134,  143 

Melancholy,  132,  140,  147 

Scab,  107 
Seasons  of  the  year, 

Oil,  125,  153 

Varying  food  in  the,  90,  128, 

130 

Palsy,  112,  113 
Parts  or  Functions  of  the]Body 

Seasickness,  91 
Sight,  124 

Hearing,  123 

Spleen,  106 

Heart,  156 

Sleep  at  Midday,  77 

Humors,  132 

Sloth,  77 

Choleric,  115,  132,  136,  144 

Soap,  126 

Melancholy,  132,  140,  147 

Spodium,  106 

Phlegmatic,  132,  138,  145 
Sanguine,  132,  134,  143 
Liver,  156 

Stomach,  144,  147 
Supper  should  be  light,  75,  79 
exercise  after,  123 

Stomach,  144,  147 

Surfeit,  88 

Teeth,  125,  131 

Phlegmatic,  132,  138,  145 
Phthisis,  77 

Tastes,  various,  108 
Teeth,  125,  131 

Poisons,  86,  91 
Arsenic,  126 

Temperaments 
Choleric,  115,  132,  136,  144 

[215] 


Temperaments  Vinegar,  103 

Melancholy,  132,  140,  147  Vomiting,  128,  146 

Phlegmatic,  132,  138,  145 

Sanguine,  132,  134,  143  Warts,  121 

Temperance,  88  Water,  93 

Wine 
Urine,  102,  103,  147  Gascony,  81 

Good,  88 

Veins,  131  Red,  84 

Venereal,  127,  130,  150  Strong,  82 

Ventilation  and  Surroundings  of          White,  84 

dwellings,  87  Sop  in,  108 


Paul  B.  Hoeber,  69-71  East  spth  Street,  New  York 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


FEB  121974 

11   APR""   135 

MAR  13 1974 

ifcfi'D  LD-Ufi| 

stP29tfT5 


Form  L9-Series  444 


A    000029350    6 


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/  b  J  7 


